KSU asks govt to end practice of favouritism in job recruitment

SHILLONG, JULY 17: A clear message to the state government that it should end the practice of favouritism and nepotism in job recruitment was made on the occasion of the 183rd death anniversary of the Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem, who rebel against the British Empire.

Leaders and members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) paid rich tributes and observed minute of silence infront of the statue of the freedom fighter at Madan Iewrynghep (Firebrigade) here on Tuesday.

The plague stone on the foot of the statue constructed by the KSU had on it writings about U Tirot Sing Syiem which described him as – “The bravest of the Khasis who loved his land the most, who served the best; sacred in our hearts.”

Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling, a former general secretary of the KSU, was one among the former leaders which include former presidents – Samuel Jyrwa and Daniel Khyriem, who also attended the function.

Speaking on the occasion, KSU chief Lambokstar Marngar asked the state government to ensure transparency in the job recruitment especially by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) by putting an end to the practice of favouritism and nepotism.

Referring to the recent petrol bomb attack on the office of the MPSC, he said that it has made the Union to suspect that it could be due to the “unfair practices” having led to such untoward incident.

“Therefore it is high time for the state government to wake from its slumber and address this issue by ensuring job recruitment is based on merits as we often heard that only those who have money and are closed to ministers could get job appointments,” he said.

Asserting the state can only grow if the right and deserving people are in the right job, Marngar said, “The only way to get efficient and competent employees is through a transparent recruitment process. There is need to give deserving persons a chance to serve in order for the state to grow.”

Vowing to continue its fight against influx of outsiders into the state, the KSU chief said that if the state government remains adamant in its attitude, the Union will be compelled to give an answer through actions.

It may be mentioned here that the KSU is one of the 13 pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) groups which have been demanding the implementation of the comprehensive mechanisms to check influx and illegal immigrants into the state.

Appealing to the people to follow the footsteps of the freedom fighter, Marngar said it is time that the state produces another U Tirot Sing Syiem who will represent the people in the government’s secretariat.

Earlier in his speech, FKJGP organizing secretary Marbud Dkhar lambasted the state government for its alleged failure to honor and give due recognition to the U Tirot Sing Syiem.

“The government has only declared the day as a state holiday but it has failed to give due respect to this great freedom fighter as we do not see any official programme being organized to mark the occasion,” he said.

U Tirot Sing, a tribal Khasi chief of Nongkhlaw Kingdom, was the first tribal Khasi ruler to rebel against the British Empire in 1829.

On January 13, 1833, the British forces treacherously captured him and kept him in captivity at Dhaka where he died on July 17, 1835.

By Our Reporter