Conference of PSCs held in city

Addressing the gathering during the Inaugural Session, Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma while according a warm welcome to the members of the Standing Committee also expressed gratitude for holding its meeting for the first time in the state of Meghalaya. He said that across the nation there is a perception among the people that the state PSCs can be influenced by the politicians and government and politicians need to dispel such perceptions. He hoped that such engagements of the Standing Committee will culminate into ensuring that the PSCs are capable of insulating themselves from such situations.

The Chief Minister also said that it is also necessary to empower the job seekers to decide upon their career path by supporting them with the right counseling and coaching. He also informed that due to various career interventions of the state government recruitment of local youth into armed forces and defence has increased over the years. He hoped that the deliberations of the conference will culminate into the desired outcome of better, competent and transparent PSCs that will ensure efficient and better governance.

Also present at the meeting was Special invitee, Chairman, UPSC, Prof David Syiemlieh. He highlighted two important expectations of PSCs by the framers of the constitution of India that is to Indianization of services and to maintain efficient and contended PSCs free from political interference. He said that PSCs need to free themselves from such influences and strive to ensure that recruitment to services should bridge the social and economic differences in the country. He hoped that the conference will consider the important aspect of Digitization of state PSCs.

The National Conference of State PSCs is an august forum formed under the aegis of UPSC and with all State PSCs in India as its members. National Conference is recognized as an important national level forum to share the mutual experiences and to work towards improving the functioning of PSCs in India. A meeting of National Conference is hosted every year in one of the state PSCs to discuss various issues of common concern and find solutions.

A Standing Committee consisting of a Chairman and 8 members is elected every year from among the Chairmen of State PSCs, one third of which members will retire every year. The Standing Committee is the highest body of the National Conference which will steer ahead the deliberations of the National Conference.

The Standing Committee consists of Chairman of Telengana State PSC as Chairman, and Chairmen of PSCs of Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Haryana, Kerala, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh as its members.

Among others present at the meeting were Chief Secretary, Govt of Meghalaya, Y Tsering, Principal Secretary, Personnel & AR etc R V Suchiang and officials and members of Meghalaya Public Service Commission.