'C&RD Minister insensitive towards women'

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, July 19: The members of the Association of Qualified Candidates for the post of Gram Sevika who are staging an indefinite hunger strike demanding the State Government to extent the validity of the merit list on Sunday conducted a prayer service on the occasion of Women’s week here in the city.

“We are saddened by the apathetic attitude of the State government. Even after one of our members has been hospitalized, the government is not taking any initiative regarding our demand,” the members of the association said after the prayer service on Sunday.

The members said that they are staging this indefinite hunger strike against the adamant attitude of the government to appoint them even though they have qualified for the post of Gram Sevika in 2012.

Questioning empowerment of women in the State, the members said, “Where are all the women NGOs in the State and the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) who are supposed to look after the welfare of the women?”

The members also appealed the MLAs and MDCs especially those form Sohra, Mylliem, Mawphlang and Shillong North Constituency to intervene into the matter.

Alleging illegal appointment in the KHADC, the association members said, “We are pained to see that some people are being appointed through illegal channels especially in the KHADC, while the government is still reluctant to appoint us though we have qualified for the post is 2012.”

Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Minister Prestone Tynsong had refused to extend the validity of the merit list and had maintained that the candidates were fighting a losing battle.

 “We are not fighting a losing battle. It is our legitimate right to get appointment after being declared as qualified in the merit list,” the association members retorted, adding that the statement of the minister only shows how insensitive he is towards women.

Referring to the minister’s statement that extension of the merit list is illegal, the candidates said, “In fact it is illegal on the part of government to not declare the number of vacant posts during advertisement.”