Editor,
The warning announced by the MPSC Chairman LM Sangma on 30th November that if any candidate applying for the vacant posts as advertised by the MPSC is found to have been involved in canvassing, directly or otherwise, with either the MPSC members, its officers or staff thereof, he/she would automatically stand debarred for a spell of five years from applying and appearing for any examination or personal interview. This bold step would in no uncertain terms send a positive message across the board of how the MPSC has resolved to adopt a policy of uncompromising transparency in the recruitment process, a move which is indubitably a refreshingly new one, unheard of before.
Hence, the public in general and the job-seekers in particular must be breathing a sigh of relief that henceforth only meritorious candidates, without greasing somebody’s palm, would be appointed to their respective applied posts. Significantly, through this caveat issued by the incumbent MPSC Chairman, this Commission could earn huge public endorsement after so much of brickbats it has been at the receiving end of, for a slew of allegations leveled from different quarters. Either way, it remains to be seen how far this noble crusade of MPSC to usher in credibility is sustained in its true perspective, hereinafter.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong – 2
Banks should work & days a week and forego holiday
Editor,
Demonetization of currency notes has increased the responsibility of the banking-system, which requires banking-operations on all the seven days of the week including even on holidays. Earlier it was a step in reverse direction when government made second and fourth Saturdays as banking-holidays.
Bank-employees can be given two holidays per week by rotation to compensate for banks being opened on holidays. It may be recalled that banking was smooth even on a day of Holi in Delhi when banks kept open on the festival of colours due to some confusion regarding holiday on the Holi-day. Paying some extra incentive to bank-employees working on Saturdays, Sundays and public-holidays can also be considered to pacify them.
The same system should be enforced on post-office employees. Much-awaited plan of merger of public-sector banks subsequently followed by merger of nearing bank-branches can generate a large force of banking-employees to fulfill seven-days per week banking in the country even though some may opt for voluntary-retirement-scheme (VRS).
Yours etc.,
Madhu Agarwal
(Guinness Record Holder for letters in Newspapers)
Delhi – 6
Did we hear cashless?
Editor,
Cashless transactions say over Rs.50,000 is welcome. But 100 per cent cashless transactions will only add insult to injury. In that case, we cannot even use a pay toilet whatever may be our urgency if there is a link / tower failure. When countries like the USA are not 100 % cashless with 99 per cent literacy, it will be ludicrous if India tries it with only 74.4 per cent literacy. Without hurting the wounds of the poor, the Government should now clean 95 per cent of the black wealth in the form of benami property, gold and foreign bank deposits abroad off our economy. Otherwise, the ongoing economic Swachh Abhiyan will only be reduced to jumla theatrics in the end.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De, Kolkata