KHM reiterates demand for age relaxation

CIVIL SERVICES EXAMITION

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, Aug 22: A delegation of Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM) State Youth Wing on Tuesday met Chief Secretary Y Tsering seeking information on the status of its demand to relax age limit for those appearing for the State’s civil services examitions from 32 to 40 years.

On 10th August, the organization had submitted a letter to the State government demanding relaxing the upper age limit for local youth competing for the State’s civil services examitions, besides extend the last date (31st August) for submission of forms by the candidates.

Speaking to reporters here after the meeting, KHM youth wing president Thomas Passah informed the media that the Chief Secretary had told them that he had forwarded their demands to the departments concerned.

“If the departments concerned can’t extend the last date by 30th August, then it will be a huge loss for the educated youth of the State,” he said.

Stating that the last civil services examition was held in 2006, Passah said, “Eleven years have passed since the last civil services examition was held and we don’t know when the next exams will happen again. Hence, there is a need to relax the upper age limit for the applicants from 32 to 40 years.”

According to him, the government can easily fulfill their demand as there is already a provision in the Meghalaya Civil Services Rule and all that it requires is Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and Personnel Department directing the Meghalaya Public Services Commission (MPSC) to increase the age limit to 40 years.

“Many of our ministers in the government have voiced their concern over the increasing unemployment in the State, but they have not done anything yet to resolve the issue. And this is a golden opportunity for the government to show that it is serious on the issue of unemployment,” he said.

The KHM leader said that if the government fails to deliver on their demand then they will be forced to take out agitation programmes.