The time is urgent for the government to think carefully about how to help the youth train for the ranks of IAS, IPS and even IFS. At the present rate it may take years for Meghalaya to get it’s own people to reach the higher levels in the bureaucracy.
The last Khasi to pass the UPSC’s IAS examination was Isawanda Laloo in 2013. There have been no IPS officers among the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo for a long time.
If the government does not take immediate action to train the youth to sit for these examinations conducted by the UPSC, we may not have enough state residents to hold high positions in the state.
It is not because of ethnic discrimination. But when there are no more officers from our own ethnic groups, other ethnic groups will fill those posts. There is always a difference when led by indigenous people because they know everything, from the feelings of the people, the way of life, the way of eating, the way of working.
However, if it is taken over by others, it will be difficult because they do not understand the language and they do not know much about the life of the people and the state.
The government should also open coaching classes which will bring in skilled teachers who are willing to train the youth in preparation for these competitive examinations.
At present, only the children of the rich can afford to go for training, but those who come from poor or low-income families find it very difficult because the cost is high.
In other states of the North East, like Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, there are many indigenous IAS and IPS officers. For example, when the posts of Chief Secretary and DGP are taken over by our people, there is change, and peace and stability exist and continue, because there is understanding in communication and in the language.
However, if we accept others as in the past, there will be more trouble because they do not understand the situation of the indigenous people in Meghalaya. When there is no peace, armed groups emerge to take advantage of the situation to further disrupt the peace.
Therefore, in order for us to get our own people to take over these higher positions in the state once again, we urge the government to take action immediately, because the time is still ripe to guide the youth to reach the higher positions.
Parents should also encourage their youngsters to take part in education, especially to improve their skills in these fields, because if the youngsters do not rise up, the time will come when the rule of our own people will end.
