Arunachal Government to raise age limit for tribal candidates for APSSC exams

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Much to the relief of the victims of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APSSC) question paper leak fiasco, the State Government has decided to increase the eligible age of tribal candidates up to 40 years for appearing in APPSC examinations from the present upper-age limit of 37 years. Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the decision of the Government along with a slew of other announcements during a function held here Tuesday evening.

Expressing shock and disgust over the recent paper leakage scam in the State's top recruiting body, Khandu said that the State Government is alive to the over-aging concerns of aspirants for no fault of theirs and, therefore, has decided to increase the age limit. "It was our Government that had increased the age limit for APPSC examinations from 35 to 37 for APSTs (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe). Now we will increase it to 40 for benefit of all aspirants including those who have been deprived of a fair chance due to a few vested interest persons," the Chief Minister said.

He informed that the State public service commission is in the process of complete overhaul and soon a robust and stricter SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) would be in place as has been done with the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB).

The Chief Minister assured the people that his Government will deal with all kinds of corruption with an iron hand and warned corrupt officials.

"I as a Chief Minister may not have the power to give employment but I still have the power to take it away."

In line with the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations, Khandu further announced that the dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) of all regular State Government employees would be enhanced by four per cent that would see an increment in their DA/DR from 28 to 32 per cent with effect from July 1 this year.

The State Government employees will also now receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) at par with Central Government employees, he said. Khandu further announced that non-practicing allowance (NPA) would be paid to Government doctors from now on, which was a long-pending request of the doctors' fraternity of the State.

He informed that in implementing all these announcements, the State exchequer will have to bear additional burden of Rs 172 crore per year. He, however, said that his Government is capable and ready to bear the extra burden. "Our Government is a performing Government. In recent years we have more than doubled our revenue generation and Rs 172 crore is but a small amount to be spent on welfare of our employees, who in fact are the backbone of the Government," the Chief Minister said.

Khandu, however, expressed expectation that the approximately 68,000 State Government employees would reciprocate positively and perform their duties with sincerity and diligence.

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