Staff Selection Board creation, a historic decision of Government: Pema Khandu

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday said that creation of the Staff Selection Board (SSB) is one of the historic decisions of the state government.

Addressing a huge gathering at the Arunachal Rising Campaign rally at Tezu in Lohit district, he said recruitment of Group C posts through the Board would offer equal opportunities to unemployed youths across the state, which was till now dependent on whims and fancies of ministers, MLAs and officers. “Group C posts were filled up through backdoors and therefore available only to those who had good connections with politicians or officers. Now, it will be stopped and all unemployed youths get equal chance,” he asserted.

Khandu informed that all vacancies in the districts would be filled up by the Board and preference wouuld be given to the people of the particular district, an official communiqué informed. “For offices like the Governor’s Secretariat, Chief Minister’s Office and the Civil Secretariat, vacancies will be filled up through open job recruitment for all by SSB,” he said. “With this policy people will have equal opportunity to get employed in their own district,” he added. Khandu further said that this would also lead to quality education and clean elections.

“As recruitment will be on merit basis, parents and youths would take education seriously and thereby improve the education scenario. Also, earlier people used to barter their votes for employment. Now they will realize that there’s no point running after politicians for jobs and therefore end the vote barter culture,” he explained. The chief minister informed that the state government is in the process of bringing in various reforms to streamline its functioning so that people at the grassroot can avail services meant for them.

“If you reform, you will perform,” he said to the government employees present in huge numbers. He added that at first reforms do bring in few hardships but in the long run it would enhance the performance of governance.

Khandu thanked all government officials for putting in their best efforts in the last two years of his tenure as the chief minister, which he said has resulted in enhancement of state revenue by more than Rs 7000 crore. He appealed them to continue the good job and sincerely work for the people.

“Without them (people) there won’t be any government or any government employee, he said.

Khandu also informed that Hollongi airport project has finally materialized and would soon see the light of day. He said he had a meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office a couple of days ago, wherein he was informed that all decks have been cleared for the long pending airport at Hollongi near the state capital. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Arunachal Pradesh probably in January next year and would lay the foundation stone for the airport,” he revealed.

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