SHILLONG, MAR 13: Opposition legislators from Garo Hills demanded setting up of a separate centre of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) in the region to cater to the need and interest of job aspirants and relieve them of undue harassment.
“We have a job reservation policy with Garo hills getting 40 per cent reservation. I believe it will be in place and decent if we can have all the job interviews through a separate centre in Garo hills,” South Tura Independent legislator John Leslee Sangma said while moving a resolution on the issue during the assembly session on Thursday.
According to Sangma, Tura, West Garo hills district is 300 kilometers away from Shillong, yet candidates aspiring to sit for any job interviews have to face a lot of difficulties like agitations and other problems if they are to face interviews in Shillong.
Sangma said besides the candidates are also facing the problem of accommodation and economic factor.
“Candidates from Garo Hills have to spend not less than Rs 5000. Whenever there is interview to be conducted in Shillong, the first thing that hit the family especially from poor economic background is from where to get the money to send their children for the interview which often compels them to sell their land and properties,” Sangma complaint.
Referring to the statement made by chief minister who had expressed concern over the low performance of students from Garo hills, Sangma said, “I believe the answer to this is the stress and harassment that such students and candidates are subjected to.”
Sangma opined that this is also one of the reasons that Garo Hills region feel discriminated and sidelined because of the insensitiveness of the leaders from the past who have failed to understand the problems of the people of the region.
Sangma also felt that if in future demand is made for a separate Garo state, this will be one of the factors.
Stating that the need of the hour is for all legislators to understand the problem and feeling of discrimination and injustice, Sangma said, “The state government is requested to do the right thing and give that sense of belonging by giving us what is ours.”
In support to the resolution, GNC legislator Clifford Marak said, “It is the duty of the state government to find out ways and means to address and resolve the problem by creating a separate examination centre at Tura which will be specifically for Garo Hills region and similar steps can also be consider for Jaintia Hills region.”
With Garo hills still economically backward, Marak said, “They would come to the MLA and ask for money for appearing I interview in Shillong.”
“If the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) can have centres spread across the country, why not the MPSC for the convenience of the candidates.,” opposition leader Donkupar Roy said while participating in the debate on the resolution.
In his reply, chief minister Mukul Sangma assured the house that the government would examine on having rules and regulation to facilitate the matter.
The chief minister said, “The state government is committed to support the MPSC for necessary requirements in conformity to meet the aspiration of the people.”
As a humble beginning, the chief minister informed that the government has already expedited the process of setting up MPSC cells in all the district headquarters of the state (except in the four newly created districts) which is a demonstration of the political will of the government.
“However, the cells although created, till date they are being utilized only for publication of notifications related to interviews and accepting of applications,” chief minister informed.
Informing that there are few recruitment interviews which were held in Tura last year, chief minister however said that due to absent of proper infrastructure, the MPSC was not able to further allow holding of other examinations in other parts of the state.- By Our Reporter
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