Shillong, Oct 17: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said the State government is pursuing with the Centre for creation of a separate Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre for Meghalaya.
“I have been pursuing the creation of a separate Meghalaya cadre since 2019, and I am hopeful this will soon be achieved”, he said during the annual conference of the Meghalaya Civil Service Officers’ Association (MCSOA) held here today.
When Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972, the states began sharing a joint cadre for All India Services, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service. The demand for a separate cadre is a long-standing issue for Meghalaya and is seen as a way to improve governance and administrative independence.
The Chief Minister also noted that reforms for the MCS are a priority, just as they are for other services.
He lauded MCS officers for their dedication and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening the administrative framework of the State.
“At the end of the day, we are all working for the same goal — to serve the people of our State. No work, no policy, and no decision is meaningful unless we remind ourselves that our purpose is to make a positive difference in people’s lives,” he said.
He urged the officers to remain guided by purpose and service, remarking, “Positions and ranks will change, but the purpose must remain constant.”
Emphasising initiative and empathy in governance, he added, “India will truly begin to change when politicians learn to say ‘no’ and officers learn to say ‘yes.’”
He encouraged greater interaction and exposure among officers through programs that provide firsthand insights into governance at higher levels, both in India and abroad.
Commissioner & Secretary Cyril V. Diengdoh said officers serve at the forefront of administration in positions such as Sub-Divisional Officers, Block Development Officers, Additional Deputy Commissioners and Secretaries.
He assured the Government is committed to improving facilities, including housing in Shillong and clarified matters regarding promotions to the IAS cadre, stating that communications have been sent to UPSC and the DoPT to conduct promotions biannually.
He further highlighted the government’s progress in ensuring regular MCS recruitment and shared details of training programs, including induction training abroad and upcoming mid-career training for officers transitioning to policy-making roles.
MCSOA President Ashish M. Sangma encouraged officers, particularly newly inducted ones, to serve with kindness, competence, and humility, emphasising that the true measure of an officer’s service lies in the satisfaction of those they serve.
He presented several key proposals to the government, including recognition of the MCS as the premier state service, posting MCS officers as deputy commissioners in selected districts, promotion to senior administrative positions, timely promotions, reduction of qualifying years for promotion, and revision of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. He also lauded the government’s decision to regularize contractual posts, describing it as a humane step benefiting numerous families.
