TEZU, Dec 18: Chief Minister Pema Khandu today termed creation of the Staff Selection Board (SSB) as one historic decision of the state government.
Addressing a huge gathering at the Arunachal Rising Campaign rally this afternoon at Tezu, headquarters of Lohit district, he said recruitment of Group C posts through the Board will offer equal opportunities to unemployed youths across the state, which were 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 will get equal chance,” he asserted.
Khandu informed that all vacancies in the districts will be filled up by the Board and preference will be given to the people of the particular district. 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.
“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 grassroots 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.
He thanked all government officials for putting in their best efforts in the last two years of his tenure as Chief Minister which has resulted in enhancement of state revenue by more than Rs 700 crore. He appealed them to continue the good job and sincerely work for the people.
“Without them (people) there won’t be any government nor 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.
Terming connectivity as the most imposing challenge for the state, Khandu however said that with the blessing of the central government roads worth Rs 50000 crore are under various stages of construction. Besides, he said surveys are going on for various rail projects while ALGs are being made functional.
“We will soon procure fixed-wing aircrafts for linking all these ALGs that would enable commercial flights within the state,” he added.
Khandu appealed the people to cooperate and support the state government in these endeavors as, he said the government or the chief minister alone cannot do everything.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by local legislator and Cabinet minister Dr Mahesh Chai, the Chief Minister assured to take up the Tezu Sunpura road with Union Minister of MoRTH Nitin Gadkari, who is visiting the state on December 20. For a bridge over Haju river and a road to connect Bedagam village, he asked the deputy commissioner to prepare DPRs and send it to the state government.
Fulfilling an earlier commitment made during his visit to the Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu, Khandu personally handed over the sanction letters for an administrative block (Rs 3 crore) and construction of internal roads in the college complex.
He later visited the stalls set up by various government departments under Sarkar Aapke Dwar program and also laid the foundation stone for newly upgraded Sunpura EAC headquarters.
During the rally, best ASHA and Anganwadi workers, teachers, progressive farmers, officials were felicitated and awarded with cash prizes. Various beneficiaries of SAD were given away certificates, LPG connections, tractors, etc, while TV sets were distributed to Gaon Buras.
Earlier on the day while travelling by road from Hayuliang to Tezu, Khandu inaugurated the Mompani bridge in Anjaw district.
The Arunachal Rising Campaign was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, State BJP President Tapir Gao, Cabinet Minister Dr Mahesh Chai, legislators PD Sona, Zignu Namchoom and Gum Tayeng besides officials of the district.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List