The dismal figure of representation in civil services from the region has concerned the North East MP’s Forum who has sought introduction of a scholarship scheme from the centre.
Secretary General of the forum and Meghalaya Congress chief Vincent H Pala in a letter to Union Minister for DoNER Gangapuram Kishan Reddy said there is an immediate need for intervention by the ministry to identify the deserving and needy civil services aspirants to undergo coaching at Delhi or at state capitals.
The forum suggested that a scholarship scheme with an amount worth Rs 10 crore per annum can be evenly distributed with each of the eight North Eastern states. “In this scheme a coaching institute of national repute with good success rate from North East and having presence in the region should identified immediately,” he added.
Pointing out that except for a few successful candidates from Manipur and Assam, Pala said the gap is growing dramatically. He said that despite all state government’s efforts, in 2017 the region could produce only 24 successful candidates, though considered highest ever in the North East, is still on the low.
Ever since, the results consistently declined instead of increasing when the region had only 13 successful candidates in 2018, 11 in 2019 and dropped to just nine in 2020.
The forum further said that there are many bright students from North East, but they are not able to succeed because of lack of guidance and facilities.