ATSUM in stir mode over RIMS job issue
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, March 31 2023:
Perturbed by the alleged imperious action of the incumbent RIMS administration and depriving the reservation rights of the tribals in the direct recruitment to Group C and D posts, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has called for agitation from April 3 in all hill districts of Manipur but did not specify the mode of agitation.
According to a statement of ATSUM, the decision to resort to agitation was considered after RIMS administration ignored repeated pleas of the apex body for streamlining the reservation norms in direct recruitment in consonance with the rule of law.
The department of personnel and training (DoPT), Government of India fixed reservation quantum for reserved categories on the basis of their population in the respective state/UTs.
As such, the reservation quantum of SC, ST and OBC for Manipur state in direct recruitment of Group C and D posts in Central institutions was fixed at 3 percent for SC, 34 for ST and 13 percent for OBC.
However, defying the DoPT memorandum, advertisements for recruitment of 134 posts of MTS and nine of LDC were notified by RIMS on January 16, 2016 and June 1, 2019 respectively.
ATSUM lodged complaint to RIMS authority, ministry concerned and NCST for streamlining of the reservation norms in line with the DoPT guidelines.
In connection with the issue, discussion between ATSUM and RIMS authority was held on several occasions.
Further, a joint meeting of Parliamentary Committee, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and RIMS authority for necessary rectification of the reservation quantum was also held.
Subsequently, the RIMS authority revised the reservation roster in respect of 134 posts of MTS which was advertised on January 16, 2016 as 67 posts for UR, four for SC, 46 ST and 17 posts for OBC.
After a clarification in the matter of reservation in appointment of Group C and erstwhile Group D posts in Central government Institutions functioning in Manipur state was sought (vide letter No B/3222/2018 - RIMS(Pt - I) dated 16-11-2021), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare instructed for compliance with the reservation quantum of 3 percent for SCs, 34 STs and 13 percent for OBCs in case of direct recruitment to Group C and D was conveyed to the RIMS director through a letter on May 11, 2022.Accordingly, in compliance with the Ministry letter, the RIMS administration with the approval of authority concerned issued an order of reservation quantum to be followed in RIMS as 3 percent for SC, 34 percent for ST, 13 percent for OBC and 50 percent for UR in case of direct recruitment to Group C and D posts.
However, the incumbent RIMS administration in gross violation of the known reservation norms, declared the results for appointment of nine LDC posts at RIMS on March 3, 2023.Despite cordial plead of ATSUM for rectification of the reservation discrepancies, RIMS administration remained adamant in justifying its deliberate wrong doing at the persuasion of few administrative officers, it stated.
ATSUM went on to say that RIMS administration is trying to aggravate the pain of the tribals by processing DPCs for other posts before streamlining the reservation quantum of SC, ST and OBC.
Considering the blatant act of the incumbent RIMS administration as a challenge to the Indian Constitution and a desperate attempt to deprive tribal communities of Manipur their legitimate rights, ATSUM, as endorsed by its 3rd general assembly held on March 27, will resort to various form of democratic agitation from April 3 with charter of demands.
The demands include nullification of the notorious declaration of results for appointment of LDC, RIMS dated March 3, 2023; appropriate action against the erring RIMS administration in accordance with existing laws; and putting on hold of appointments and DPC of other staff till reservation of ST, SC, and OBC is streamlined.
It also stated that the ATSUM in consultation with other stakeholders may also intensify the agitation if the legitimate demands are ignored.