KHM's fil bid to force government

Upper Age Relaxation in Civil Services Exam

By A Reporter

SHILLONG, Aug 29: In a last-ditch effort to pressurize the Meghalaya government to relax the upper age limit from 32 to 40 years for the State’s civil services examition before the fil date (31st August) of submission of applications, activists of the Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM) youth wing displayed a banner opposite the Main Secretariat building here on Tuesday questioning the silence of the government over their demand.

The banner displayed by KHM members read “Don’t just speak!!! Act”, “Dr Mukul Sangma, Ministers and MLAs, if you care about the unemployed youth, this is your opportunity to prove to the youth of the State” and “Increase upper age limit for the civil service exams to 40 years”.

The banner further read “Mizoram = 40 years, Manipur = 40 years, Tripura = 40 years, Central government = 37 years, Assam = 40 years, Meghalaya =32 years????”

Speaking to reporters, KHM youth wing president Thomas Passah, said, “If the government does not relax the age limit for the civil services exam before the last date of submission of application forms, then it will be the failure of the government and not the failure of the organisation.”

He urged the government to amend the advertisement for the civil services examition and increase the upper age limit from 32 to 40 years.

“Our Ministers in the government and MLAs have voiced their concern over the increasing unemployment in the State, but yet there is still lack of action from them to actually resolve this issue,” he said.

Stating that there are many qualified youth in the State but are present unemployed, Passah said, “The Meghalaya Service Rule Para 9(2) has empowered the State government to relax the age limit of candidates. But by not doing anything, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and his Ministers have showed that have no responsibility or seriousness to work for the betterment of the youth.”

Earlier, the KHM members tried to display the banner near the gate of the Main Secretariat building, but their attempts were foiled as they did not get prior permission from the district administration.

Passah said the government has failed in its policy to provide employment to the youth of the State.

He said, “If the government does not deliver on our demands before 31st August, then we will have to consult our legal experts to discuss on ways to take this issue forward.”

He hinted that the KHM might even take the matter to the Meghalaya High Court.

Condemning all the 60 MLAs for not raising their voice on the issue, the KHM leader said there is a need to create a campaign for change, not for the public but for local representatives, including MLAs and MDCs.

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