SHILLONG: Opposition legislators have urged the State Government to set up MPSC examination centres in other districts of the State.
While moving a resolution on the need to conduct written test and interviews for Garo and general categories residing in Garo Hills, South Tura legislator John Leslee Marak (Independent) said that the candidates from Garo Hills are facing a lot hardships since they have to travel all the way to Shillong to appear for the interviews and written test conducted by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC).
He said that candidates from Garo Hills are facing the problem of accommodation while coming to Shillong.
“The students have to spend five thousand or more to appear for such interviews. This is an added burden especially for those who belong to the under-privileged families. I have been informed that many parents have to take loans or sell their property to be able to send their children for an interview to Shillong,” Marak said.
The legislator said that another major problem which the candidates are facing is that Garo Hills use to remain cut off from other parts of the State for weeks either due to frequent shut down in Assam or due to floods and landslides in Assam.
Marak also said that there has been a complaint that the performance of candidates from Garo Hills is not upto the mark compared to candidates from other parts while appearing for an interview.
“It is difficult for the candidates from Garo Hills to compete since they have travel for 320 km to attend the (Contd on P-10)
Demand for MPSC…
(Contd from P-3) interviews. They are bound to be stressed since they land in Shillong on the day of the interview,” he said.
He said that the Government should consider the possibilities of holding of the written examination and interviews of the MPSC in Tura exclusively for the candidates from Garo Hills.
Taking part in the debate, Chokpot legislator Clifford R Marak said that the Government can consider setting up separate MPSC centres not only in Garo Hills but also in Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills.
“As a legislator representing Garo Hills, I understand the problems faced by the candidates. There are many candidates who would come to me asking me how to go to Shillong for attending the interview. I am sure that other MLAs from Garo Hills might have faced similar situations,” Marak said.
Opposition leader and UDP legislator Dr. Donkupar Roy said that if the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) can have examination centres in various parts of the country, then MPSC should also do the same.
“I am sure it should be a problem for the Government to set similar centers of the MPSC in a few district headquarters. This would be a big relief for candidates from the remote areas since they would no longer have to travel to Shillong to attend the interview,” Dr. Roy said.
In his reply, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma said that the State Government was concerned about the problems faced by the candidates especially those coming from Garo Hills.
Recalling that this was not the first time that this issue has been raised, the Chief Minister said, “I have come across several civil society groups or student bodies mentioning about the need to set up MPSC centres in other parts of the State.”
He also informed that in the past one year, the Government had conducted some of the examinations of the MPSC in Tura.
“One may recall that this Congress-led Government had set up MPSC cells in various district headquarters except in the four new districts. Presently, they are using this cell for accepting application forms,” Dr. Sangma said.
“I know that the MPSC at present does not have its own infrastructure. The Government is committed to provide all the necessary support to the MPSC especially of infrastructural and manpower support,” he assured.