By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With only a few number of students from Meghalaya clearing the prestigious Civil Service examinations, the State Government has drawn attention of the students to the various coaching initiatives launched by the government for the youth of the State irrespective of caste, tribe, creed or religion.
Reminding the aspirant youth of the Chief Minister’s All India Service Examinations Incentive Scheme which was launched in 2010, the Government has called upon the youth to avail this scheme which provides coaching allowances and other incentives.
“This scheme was launched with a view to encourage and incentivize youths hailing from Meghalaya to compete in the all India Civil Services Examinations and is aimed towards promoting, strengthening and supporting such youth in their endeavour in preparation for and successful appearance in the annual examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission,” Secretary in charge of Education, FR Kharkongor, told The Shillong Times here on Tuesday.
Kharkongor said that the Government has put into place these schemes for the benefits of the youths of the State and it is for them to come forward and avail these incentives.
The Education Secretary also stated that there have been many students who have come forward to avail this scheme and while some managed to clear the Civil Services (Main) Examinations, others only managed to clear the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations.
Kharkongor also said that there are some successful candidates who had availed this scheme and also cleared the interview and are already in service. He cited the name of SDO of Sohra Civil Sub Division, Cyril Diengdoh, as one such candidate who had availed of the scheme.
Under this scheme, successful candidates who pass the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination are provided cash reward of Rs 5,000 and an additional amount of Rs 10,000 if the same candidate passes the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
The state government will also reimburse course fee, upto Rs 20,000, paid to any recognized coaching institute in the country by the aspiring students.
According to the official website of the Education Department, all candidates who have successfully qualified for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, in addition to the Rs 10,000 cash incentive, will also be entitled once for to and fro airfare from their home address to New Delhi for the purpose of appearing for the UPSC interview by the cheapest mode of air transport available at that point of time.
The necessary funds are allotted by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat from the Chief Minister’s Special Scheme on requisition to the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education which has been authorized to sanction and disburse the cash rewards to the aspiring students.
Meanwhile, when asked whether any coaching centre is being set up in the State, Kharkongor said that one coaching centre has been functioning at the premises of the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute while another one is located at the Don Bosco College, Tura, which has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Youth Development Scheme.