The Mizoram government has drawn flak from opposition parties over the appointment of a ‘layman’ and party worker closed to Chief Minister Zoramthanga as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister at a rank on par with secretary under the state government.
Speaking to reporters, main opposition party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) youth vice president H Vanlalhuma said the new appointment has shocked the people as such has never been experienced in the past.
He said that it will be an insult to the people of the state if the person (Rosangzuala) was appointed solely because of his party affiliation or being the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) party worker.
The appointment of Rosangzuala as OSD to the Chief Minister, a fabricated post purportedly to appease the employee, has also greatly shocked government employees, he said.
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“What skill and expertise do Rosangzuala has in order to be given such post?” Vanlalhuma questioned.
He also asked the chief minister to clarify as to what made it necessary to create the OSD post apart from regular posts like the additional chief secretary to the CM, secretary to the CM and Personnel Secretary to the CM.
He further asked the Chief Minister to announce the significance of the new post.
The ZPM leader alleged that the state government has hugely wasted public money by creating 14 boards under the state’s flagship programme- Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) and vice-chairman of such boards enjoy a minister of state rank.
“At a time when the state is facing a financial crisis due to Covid-19, the new appointment would only mean wastage of public money and will add more woe to the people,” he said.
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Congress also criticized the state government for appointing a party worker as OSD, the high-ranking post supposed to be enjoyed by IAS or Mizoram Civil Service (MCS) officers.
The new appointment was not only an insult to the bureaucrats especially the IAS and MCS officers but will also demoralise the educated youths in their efforts to become IAS or MCS officers through competitive examinations, the party said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Mizo National Front (MNF) government headed by Zoramthanga by notification had appointed Rosangzuala, an adviser to the party headquarters, as Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister with a monthly honorarium of Rs 1 (one).
The employee will enjoy the rank and status of secretary under the Mizoram government and his headquarters will be Aizawl, the notification said.
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The appointment could be terminated at any time by the state government by giving him (employee) a notice of one month in advance, the notification added.
The Chief Minister Office (CMO) now has both political adviser and technical adviser to the CM outside the regular bureaucrat circle.