Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today informed the Assembly that the state government is examining the entire job recruitment process to come up with a comprehensive policy to usher in reforms to the system.
“We are examining the entire recruitment process. We have come to the conclusion that if we are to bring reforms, let us do it once and for all and let us look into all aspects and come up with a comprehensive policy and plan,” Sangma said while replying during question hour.
United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator for Mowkaiaw, Nujorki Sungoh, urged the government to do away with the contentious personal interviews in order to ensure transparency in the recruitment process and to avoid nepotism.
He cited that the central government has already abolished the personal interview since 2016, following which 23 states and eight Union territories have followed suit.
“Therefore, I request the Chief Minister to kindly examine this matter and make sure our state also abolishes the personal interview to ensure there is no favouritism and nepotism (in the job recruitment process),” Sungoh said.
To this, Sangma said that in 2017 the CM at the time (Dr Mukul Sangma, then of the Congress Party but now of the Trinamool Congress) had written to the Centre to inform that the state government would not do away with the personal interview.
“However, we are examining the matter. There are pros and cons to this aspect. That is why the government is examining all aspects to make sure whatever decision is taken is for the overall interest and is going to ensure the overall process is smooth and gives better opportunities to the youth of the state,” he added.
Sangma further informed that the former CM, in his 2017 letter, pointed out the presence of different qualified persons applying for different posts and, therefore, an interview will allow the selection committee to understand the quality and differentiate between individuals and see who will be better suited for a particular job.
“All these factors, as I said, we need to look into. It is not a small decision. It is a decision that will affect the youth. We need to do a lot of analysis and examination and we cannot have a simple approach or a piecemeal basis,” Sangma said.
