SHILLONG, Jan 17: In a major decision that would have a positive impact on thousands of unemployed youths of the state, the Cabinet on Monday decided to extend the upper-age limit by five years for recruitment into various government jobs.
The proposal, once passed, will increase the upper age limit for candidates from 32 years to 37 years.
Announcing the proposal, Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui said the government has decided to defer it to the next Cabinet meeting since the proposal needs to be fine tuned and some clarity is needed on certain aspects pertaining to the upper age limit.
“We will sit again in the next few days to finalise this matter,” Rymbui said.
The demand for increasing the upper age limit has been made time and again by the political parties, pressure groups and the citizens. UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh had recently said that his party will pursue with the state government to increase the upper age limit for recruitment to vacant posts in various departments.
“Increasing the upper age limit is important for opening up employment opportunities for the youths as many of them have already attained the age of 33 years and are no longer eligible to apply even if there are vacancies,” Lyngdoh had said.
“We also need to consider the fact that two years have been lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he had stated.
He had pointed out that many states in the country have increased the upper age limit for jobs to 38 years and even 40 years. “There can be exceptions in the case of departments such as police where 32-plus people cannot be recruited,” Lyngdoh had said.
Cabinet nod to Early
Childhood Devp Mission
The State Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal for the implementation of the Early Childhood Development Mission, an externally-aided project which will cater to the needs of children not covered under the ICDS programmes.
“This mission is an externally-aided programme, tentatively entailing Rs 350 crore,” Rymbui said.
He said there are more than 4 lakh children in the age group of 0-6 years in the state.
“As of now, the ICDS programmes cover only about 4,000 plus villages. But there are 1,500 other villages besides new habitations that are yet to be covered under the programmes. Therefore, there are many children who are not benefitting from the ICDS programmes,” he said.
Stating that the government wants to ensure a holistic development of all children, Rymbui said it has brought this mission to take care of nutrition, well-being and education of the children in the age group of 0-6 years who are not covered under the ICDS programme.
He said the financial implications will be finalised after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the agency which will provide the funds.
The Minister said the mission will be a convergence of social welfare, health, education departments and other stakeholders for ensuring better health care and education of the children.
“We are hopeful that we will be able to cater to children, who need care at early stage, through this mission,” he added.