From Ronald Syiem
NONGSTOIN: A section of job aspirants in the state have alleged discrepancies in the mode of appointment of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees (DSC), saying that the present recruitment system is archaic and a hindrance to eligible candidates without political clout.
Worse still, they allege that the MPSC and DSC in their present form only bring financial profit for some political agents and officers who have the authority to push for their candidates by manipulating marks during the personal interview.
The Shillong Times spoke to a few job aspirants who claim to have done very well in the written tests but were ousted in the viva-voce. They point to the mode of appointment in the Health Department which has always been done through the office of the Director Health Service (DHS).
“This pernicious system is allowed to continue because every government wants to manipulate the system and facilitate back door appointments, a practice prevalent since the past few decades. But no one even talks about this blatant corruption,” said one of them.
In a fair and transparent system and according to the regulations of the Commission/Committee, a youth who is eligible for the post and does well in the written exams and interview is assured of the job. But this has not been the practice in Meghalaya.
The respondents spoken to by The Shillong Times allege that even MCS officers appointed over the years are either family members of leading politicians or have got in by bribing members of the Commission.
“It happens at the lower rung too. It is because of these anomalies in the selection process that the Court has interfered and investigated the selection process in the past. This has happened in the appointment of Lower Primary school teachers, police etc,” another said.
A recent case was brought to light recently in the manner in which the District Selection Committee (DSC) in West Khasi Hills conducted the interview for the posts of Grade IV and LDA.
This reporter sought information under RTI from the PIO, District Selection Committee in West Khasi Hills district.
Based on the RTI, it came to light that some candidates were consistently given 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 marks by the non-official DSC members whereas others got unusually high marks from the members like 9, 9.5, and 9.8. It was also observed that the marks given by the chairman and member secretary, DSC experts and members were always average, neither too high nor too low.
While most candidates secured good marks in the written test, some of them failed in the personal interview where they secured only 1 or 2.
Based on such a revelation, it is alleged that personal interview has become a way to defeat the deserving candidates and to push those with political backing. In this manner, capable and deserving candidates’ are deprived of their rights and forfeit the opportunity to serve the state.
Lack of transparency
Besides, the respondents claim that the procedures, regulations and guidelines provided by the MPSC and DSC appear to be robust on the surface but what happens internally is dirty and corrupt.
“The reason for this large scale manipulation is because members of the Commission/Committee are handpicked political agents. There can be no fairness and transparency as long as the Commission/Committee is packed with people handpicked by the government to carry out its bidding,” a disgruntled respondent said.
‘Govt should be committed’
Apparently, no government, not even the present one which claimed in the very beginning of its tenure to bring in transparency, has had the courage to cleanse the recruitment system.
Genuine candidates who have tried their best but lost the race feel that the next government should be one that is committed to the youth and provides them a level playing field.
‘Do away with interviews’
The respondents feel that members of the MPSC and DSC should be people with credible track record and not members of political parties. If this is not possible then they suggested that written examinations should be the only form of selection and personal interviews should be done away with because they allow too much subjectivity and manipulation.
Video recording
Secondly, they feel that video recording should be allowed during personal interviews so that those who are not satisfied or anyone who wants information can get a copy from MPSC or DSC.
Employment policy
“A very clear and emphatic employment policy should be enacted and followed in letter and spirit so that the meritorious are allowed to serve the state. Without such a policy, the future of the job seeking youths is doomed,” a respondent said.
Asked if they expect the present government to bring in such an employment policy they said they were unsure since the government was now on its last legs.
Vote for change
“We will vote for change and insist that all political parties make youth affairs a priority not only in sports and games but in employment generation as well,” a youth leader of West Khasi Hills said.
