Appoint a technical person as the Director of Agriculture Dept: ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 04 2021: Expressing serious concern over the current stalemate arising of appointing non-professional as Director of Agriculture Department, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur extended solidarity and support to the demand of the employees of All Manipur Agriculture Department Employees Welfare Organization (AMADEWO) .

Khaiminlen Doungel, Information and Publicity Secretary of ATSUM said the Agriculture department has been playing a very important role in Manipur as agriculture and horticulture are the main occupation for the people both in the valley and hill.

However, of late, the agriculture department has been mired by protest and other forms of agitations against the appointment of a non-professional as the director of the department.

He continued that sidelining well trained and experienced officers with technical background raises question on the sincerity of the Government and the quality of service rendered for the welfare of the farmers of the state.

Director of Agriculture is a technical post which should be manned by a Director who has technical background of agriculture, he said that the State Government must initiate for timely solution acceptable to the department concerned and the people.

In the past, the state Government used to appoint the Director of the Agriculture department from the staff through line of promotion on seniority basis.

However, contrary to the traditional appointment of technical person for the post of Director as followed since 1971 and despite repeated appeals from the employees of the department to follow the same policy of appointment, the State again recently appointed an MCS officer as Director for the department, he added.

He also said that several like-minded organizations and employees of Agriculture department have raised the matter to the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister against the appointment of a non-professional as Director of the department but the demand for revocation of the same order put forth has been sidelined and the Government chose to remain silent till date.

The inability on the part of the Government to redress the grievances and unable to expeditiously solved the demand of the employees on time is very unfortunate and disappointing as most of the employees of Agriculture department have started protest and non-cooperation movement, he added.

He further said that considering the importance and role of Agriculture Department for the overall growth and development of the agriculture production both in the valley and hill, ATSUM will ensure its commitment for effective overall development of agriculture in the State.

While extending solidarity and support to the demand of the employees of Agriculture department headed by AMADEWO, the student body appealed to the Government to ensure that the post of director of Agriculture Department and its allied sectors such as Horticulture, Veterinary, Sericulture and Fisheries are occupied by professionally trained officers of the concerned department.

It also cautioned that any hardships arising out of the schematic political appointment of nontechnical person will be the sole responsibility of the Government.

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