The Abysmal Works of Manipur Public Service Commission and the Fate of A Manipuri Youth

A youth of the state *

Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) Building in Imphal in March 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Supposed to be an esteemed body in the state, the Manipur Public Service Commission under the current chairmanship fails to command any credibility. By its own actions while conducting the recent Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination, 2016 [MCSCC (P) E, 2016], it has exposed itself to be an extremely incompetent body. The Commission is no longer competent to conduct MCSCCE.

The 3rd July, 2016 will be the third time that MPSC has notified for the Examination after cancelling the first two: one without holding the Examination, and the other after holding the Examination. We are not sure whether this time also the MPSC will conduct the examination successfully. And, how many times will it cancel? With MPSC having no accountability and responsibility, there is nothing we can be sure of the examinations conducted by it.

The mistakes in the instructions of the question paper of MCSCC (P) Examination, 2016, because of which the Examination is cancelled, shows the utter carelessness and negligence on the part of the MPSC. It seems that a Class 10 student is more qualified than the members of MPSC who are handling the Examination. The mistakes could be identified by any person who can at least read basic sentences in English. The instructions could have been copied from elsewhere, most seemingly from UPSC CSE question papers, and MPSC edited it; and even in that MPSC failed.

The Government of Manipur should look into this matter seriously. The Commission should not continue to give excuses. It should have given due attention to the Examination which the Commission was already lacking.

It should be noted that the repeated cancellations of the Examination are also demoralising the youth of Manipur who are already negatively impacted by various forms of instabilities and crises in the state. These cancellations do not respect the time and effort of the students who are appearing in the examination. The hard work the students have dwelled upon has been utterly dishonoured by the Commission.

For students who are outside the state and belonging to economically backward classes, going to and fro between Manipur and their respective place of study frequently is a big burden. The infeasibility of land transport compels them to book costly flight tickets. The repeated cancellations of these examinations are without any consideration of these students; it could only be done by persons who do not have a vision of an inclusive society and by this very nature incompetent to be a civil servant in a society like ours.

As a youth of the state who is eligible to appear in the Examination, I have a right to appear in the Examination. If I satisfy all the rules and regulations or terms and conditions of the Examination, this right to appear in the Examination should be respected. However, the MPSC has violated this very right. They have financially exhausted me and my right to appear in the Examination has been severely curtailed.

I booked to and fro flight tickets between Delhi and Imphal for the MCSCC (P) Examination which was supposed to be held in February, 2016. The flight tickets had to be cancelled just few days before the scheduled date of the flight because MPSC cancelled the Examination. I lost half the amount I paid for the flight tickets. The second time, I booked flight tickets and went ahead to appear in the Examination. I did well and my chances of clearing the examination were high. But again, because of utter negligence and irresponsibility on the part of MPSC, the Examination held on 15th May, 2016 has been cancelled. The MPSC has again notified that it will conduct the Examination on 3th July, 2016.

Now, I do not have any more money to buy flight tickets or train tickets. My economic resources has been exhausted. I belong to an economically backward family. No one in my family has a government or private job. We don't have a large tract of land. I saved some money which the MPSC has wisely indirectly eaten up so that the likes of me can be slowly removed or discriminated from the elite service.

How can MPSC fail to see these things ahead? What is the vision of the Chairman and Members of MPSC for our society? While conducting the examinations, do they think of each and every class of the society? Do they think of the youth of the state and the problems they are facing? Or, do they think that their job is simply to get over with the examination? The MPSC needs to be more responsible and accountable.

This Examination matters to persons like me. To be honest, I need a stable job. But, more than that, I want to serve the people of my state. I am determined to do that. I want to be a part in building our society for the better. However, I will not be able to give the Examination this time. As already mentioned, there is no money left for me. I cannot afford to go to Manipur and appear in the Examination now.

Dear members of MPSC, your incompetency has impacted the lives of thousands of youths of Manipur within and outside the state in a very morally, psychologically and financially negative way. You have also successfully excluded the likes of me who belong to lower economic strata from appearing in this Examination.

With your successful gradual exclusion of many of the eligible and highly qualified youths of the state from appearing in the Examination, I hope that you conduct the Examination successfully this time, with whoever left to appear in the Examination.

Sincerely yours
A youth of the state