ATSUM, DESAM pitch for local officer for CS post
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 31 2018:
With Chief Secretary RR Rashmi retiring today, ATSUM and DESAM have urged the Government to appoint a competent local officer to the same post.
Speaking to media persons at ATSUM office at Adimjati complex here today, ATSUM tribunal general Joseph R Hmar decried that the State Government often ignores local officers at the time of appointment to the post of Chief Secretary even though there are many competent local officers who are holding different responsible posts of the Central Government Even though ATSUM does not have any ill-will against non-local officers it is a matter of grave concern that non-local officers are often appointed to many key posts of the State Government after overlooking many competent local officers, Joseph said.
He went on to ask if the preference given to non-local officers at the time of appointment to key posts like the Chief Secretary implies that local officers are incompetent.
If the State Govt is of the opinion that local officers should not be appointed to the post of Chief Secretary, the Govt must give convincing reasons, he demanded.
DESAM vice-president Nameirakpam Edison said that giving preference to nonlocal officers when there is a growing need for protection of indigenous people is a matter of grave concern.
A senior and a competent local officer should be appointed as the State's next Chief Secretary.
During the past 47 years or so since Manipur attained Statehood, only 2/3 local officers had served as the State's Chief Secretary, Edison said.
ANSAM president Seth Satshang too demanded the Government to appoint the most competent local officer to the post of Chief Secretary.
Manipur is home to around 40 ethnic groups and they have diverse aspirations.
As such there are many issues in the State but these issues can be reduced considerably if there is mutual cooperation, Seth Satshang said.
Many of the ethnic conflicts are outcomes of the Government's approach.
Denying opportunities and benefits to deserving groups/people and extending the same facilities to undeserving groups have been one failure of the Government.
If a non-local officer is appointed to the post of Chief Secretary at the cost of competent local officers, one cannot help but conclude that the Government is sectarian, said the ANSAM president.
Saying that the previous Congress Government as well as the incumbent BJP-led Government appointed nonlocal officers to the post of Chief Secretary after overlooking all competent officers, Seth Satshang said there is no guarantee that there would not be public agitation if the Govt ignores the people's wish again.