Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday termed the creation of Staff Selection Board (SSB) as one of the historic decisions of the present State Government and one which would this would also lead to quality education and clean elections in the State.
Addressing the Arunachal Rising Campaign rally at Tezu, the headquarters of Lohit district, he said recruitment of Group C posts through the Board will offer equal opportunities to unemployed youths across the state that were till now dependent on whims and fancies of ministers, MLAs and officers.
“Group C posts were filled up through backdoors and therefore available only to those who had good connections with politicians or officers. Now, it will be stopped and all unemployed youths get equal chance,” he asserted.
Khandu informed that all vacancies in the districts will be filled up by the Board and preference will be given to the people of the particular district. For offices like the governor’s secretariat, chief minister’s office and the civil secretariat, vacancies will be filled up through open job recruitment for all by SSB.
“With this policy people will have equal opportunity to get employed in their own district,” he added.
“As recruitment will be on merit basis, parents and youths would take education seriously and thereby improve the education scenario. Also, earlier people used to barter their votes for employment. Now they will realize that there’s no point running after politicians for jobs and therefore end the vote barter culture,” he explained.
The CM informed that the State Government is in the process of bringing in various reforms to streamline its functioning so that people at the grassroot can avail services meant for them.
“If you reform, you will perform,” he said to the government employees present in huge numbers,” Khandu said while adding that at first reforms do bring in few hardships but in the long run it would enhance the performance of governance.
He thanked all Government officials for putting in their best efforts in the last two years of his tenure as the CM, which he said has resulted in enhancement of State revenue by more than Rs 7000 crore. He appealed them to continue the good job and sincerely work for the people.
“Without them (people) there won’t be any Government or a Government employee,” he said.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by local legislator and Cabinet Minister Dr Mahesh Chai, the Chief Minister assured to take up the Tezu Sunpura road with Union Minister of MoRTH Nitin Gadkari, who is visiting the State on 20th of this month.
For a bridge over Haju River and a road to connect Bedagam village, he asked the Deputy Commissioner to prepare DPRs and send it to the State Government.
Fulfilling an earlier commitment made during his visit to the Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu, Khandu personally handed over the sanction letters for an administrative block (Rs 3 crore) and construction of internal roads in the college complex.
He later visited the stalls set up by various Government departments under Sarkar AapKe Dwar programme and also laid the foundation stone for newly upgraded Sunpura EAC headquarters.
During the rally, best ASHA and Anganwadi workers, teachers, progressive farmers, officials were felicitated and awarded with cash prizes. Various beneficiaries of Sarkar AapKe Dwar were given away certificates, LPG connections, tractors, etc, while TV sets were distributed to Gaon Burhas.
Earlier on the day, while travelling from Hayuliang to Tezu, Khandu inaugurated the Mompani Bridge in Anjaw district.
Among others, the Arunachal Rising Campaign was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dr Mohesh Chai, legislators PD Sona, Zignu Namchoom and Gum Tayeng and BJP State president Tapir Gao.