Editor
The hunger strike by the members of the Association of Qualified Grade IV Candidates , East Khasi Hills has taken an ugly turn after some of the members were rushed to the hospital (ST 29th January 2015). Therefore the government needs to seriously delve into the process of streamlining the selection process for appointment to government services, particularly of its lowest functionaries and avoid ambiguity within the same government. I say this because while the members of the mentioned Association continue with the hunger strike the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation recently came up with an advertisement inviting candidates for Grade IV posts in its Directorate. Since such Grade IV posts in the Directorate are no different from those of a District office I see no reason as to why some of the agitated members of the Association cannot be accommodated in the posts in this Directorate instead of it advertising for fresh candidates. Moreover, if other Directorates depend on the District Selection Committees to recommend Grade IV candidates there is no reason for this particular Directorate to deviate from this process. After all it cannot boast of being holier than thou in the selection process.
The advertisement also indicates that the posts of peons and chowkidars are transferable. Transfer of such low grade employees, especially from one District to another is a harassment. Therefore instead of making a state wide advertisement for such posts it would be rational for the Directorate to appoint local candidates for such postx from the respective District Selection Committees for any of its Directorate offices within the Districts to alleviate the brunt of transfer an employee will face later. The advertisement further calls for candidates to fill up the posts of drivers and plumber. These are Grade III employees and since the Directorate Selection Committee has no authority to select candidates for such posts it overlaps with the authority of the other Selection Committees .
The Government should look into these anomalies quickly and set things in order. The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills may explore the possibility of accommodating some of the agitated members quickly into the vacant posts of the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation. For the citizens of the state, it is difficult to digest news of hunger strikes by their very own people.
Yours etc.,
R.Sawkmie,
Via email
Woman power!
Editor
I watched the television coverage of the US President’s visit to India right from the time Air Force One landed at the New Delhi airport and the subsequent coverage of the different programs thereafter. When our Prime Minister received the US President at the airport , this departure from protocol was swept under by the explicit bonhomie these two head of states of the biggest democracies exhibited which is rarely seen in the present diplomatic world. The meticulous arrangements for the different programs and the precision at which these arrangements were carried out was really impressive. But what impressed me most and a wonderful surprise it turned out to be was that a woman officer commanded the tri -service guard of honour for the United States President. This is the first time ever that a woman officer led such a command for a visiting head of state. One is naturally touched by the great efforts of the woman officer to make her command heard for the all-male parade contingent in the open ground and thereafter moving with equal strides with the US President when he inspected the guard of honour. Through all this she displayed no signs of edginess. She certainly stole the show at the ceremonial reception and made history. Likewise, the all- women parade contingent of the tri-services (Army, Navy and Air Force) captured the hearts of the audience during the Republic Day Parade. Again this is the first of its kind and it was a historic march by the women officers. It was the most spectacular display of power of Indian women, a glorious moment for the women officers, a proud moment for their family and for the people of the country and a triumph for our womenfolk. We salute them! Hats off to our Prime Minister because it is reported that it was at his directive that “women power” (Nari Shakti) is made the predominant theme for this year’s Republic Day parade. Whatever one may conclude out of this gesture it is certainly a remarkable show for the outside world about the favourable disposition that the people of India have towards their women. No wonder besides the cheers and thunderous applause from spectators for the women parade contingent at the venue there was a thumbs up as well from the Chief Guest, the US President. Indeed a giant leap for our womankind! Let us hope they continue to gloriously leap towards their aspirations.
Yours etc.,
K.L.Tariang,
Via email