Reported by Henry L Khojol
Aizwal: K. Sapdanga on Monday announced that the Mizoram government will soon begin a large-scale recruitment drive for 350 police personnel and 94 Home Guard recruits.
Addressing a party programme in Aizawl, Sapdanga said the recruitment process would include 150 unarmed constables and 200 armed police personnel. He assured that the selection procedure would follow a transparent and merit-based system similar to last year’s recruitment exercise.
The minister also stated that recruitment notifications for 94 Mizoram Home Guards (MRHG) posts have already been issued. Since the reserved quota for women has already been filled, the current intake will be limited to male candidates.
According to Sapdanga, applicants must have passed Class 10, while selection will depend on merit, physical fitness and discipline. He cautioned against political influence and favouritism, stressing that recommendations and external pressure would not determine the outcome of the recruitment process.
“Appointments will be made strictly on merit. Those supporting candidates should help them prepare physically instead of relying on recommendations,” he said.
The Home Minister added that Home Guard recruits would initially serve for a period of three years, with extensions or termination subject to existing service rules.
Sapdanga, who also holds the Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation (UD&PA) portfolio, further announced a Rs 35-crore urban safety initiative named Mission Urban Drain (MUD), aimed at reducing landslides and urban flooding in Aizawl.
He said consultancy firms have already completed surveys for the project and development work has been planned across 44 locations covering all 40 Assembly constituencies.
The project will first focus on vulnerable and landslide-prone areas in Aizawl before being extended to other district headquarters in the state. To ensure proper coordination and avoid duplication of work, the department will prepare a comprehensive drainage master plan for the city.
Sapdanga said the proposed drainage infrastructure would be designed to systematically channel wastewater from neighbourhood drains into intermediate networks and eventually into major urban drainage arteries.
He also revealed plans to cover major drainage channels wherever feasible so they can be converted into roads for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, or pedestrian pathways and stairways in steep areas.
According to the minister, the government aims to complete the entire urban safety infrastructure project by 2033.