SHILLONG: The state government has come under scanner for the alleged anomalies in the recruitment of sports consultant in the concerned department.
Raising a question, Paul Lyngdoh (UDP) said in Assembly on Wednesday that the advertisement related to the post was published only in one Khasi daily.
Moreover, no interview was conducted to select the right candidate.
According to sports and youth affairs minister, Zenith Sangma, out of the two applicants, Nikita Araujo from Goa, and the local candidate, Nicholas Pynshngainlang Jyrwa, the former was selected.
He said the selection was based on qualification and better experience in the interest of preparation for the National Games 2022 and added that the post was purely on temporary basis.
However, Lyngdoh brought to the notice of the government lack of transparency in the selection process since the advertisement was limited to one local paper, Kynjatshai, which does not have any website.
He said another anomaly was that there was no interview conducted by the department.
According to Zenith, since the service of the consultant was urgent to bid for National Games 2022, she was selected.
Lyngdoh also pointed that initially Rs 25,000 was fixed as the monthly pay of the consultant but later changed to Rs 50,000 and subsequently to Rs 80,000 based on the request of the consultant.
The UDP legislator asked whether the employer has the final say in fixing remuneration or the employee and further wanted to know what she would be doing every month for the National Games which will be held in 2022.
Lyngdoh also pointed out that the government would be spending Rs 60 lakh in six years on the consultant. The legislator wanted the government to have a fresh look into the appointment process and conduct proper interview.
He said the government should also give priority to people who are familiar with the local sports scenario.
John Leslee Sangma (Independent) asked whether the government would also examine raising the salary of district sports officers who are doing more work than the consultant.
Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) pointed out that since the advertisement was published only in one paper, many candidates could not participate. He added that if there were lapses, the government should correct the same.
Officers blamed
Leader of Opposition, Donkupar Roy said since the sports and youth affairs minister was not sure about the manner of appointment of the consultant, the officers should have provided answers to the minister.
“Officers are supposed to provide answers to the queries posed by the members in the House, but they are not doing their duty,” Roy said.
