Dear Editor,
The dishonesty in the recruitment process is surfacing time and again in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The recent incident in the SSB is one such example after the renowned APPSC’s imbroglio that is still in the court of law. Efforts are being put to end the fraudulence by searching and posting the cleanest officers of the state, but no one is born as god. After all, they are humans – just intelligent animals. Corruption is an inherited character of an animal; the degree of it differs from person to person and the opportunity they get. It cannot be eliminated, but it can be prevented and minimized by the system. The scope in the system is indirectly encouraging someone to do mistakes. Punishment for the guilty is not a permanent solution for the aspirants. The permanent solution is to frame a perfect system to prevent repeated fraudulence in the organization. The formula for ‘zero dishonesty in recruitment’ is an effort to end such recurring issues in the recruitment system in the interest of merit. The system needs to be implemented by the government in the interest of public service.
1. Different centres, different rules
The rules of the examination are strictly followed in a few examination centres and informally followed in many examination centres. The degrees of restrictions depend upon the situation, location, and the invigilator. Some centre superintendents are strict and some are slack. Therefore, the deceitful candidate can successfully cheat in some examinations centres and secure better marks.
For uniformity in the examination, there should be a common examination centre of a capacity of not less than 5000 candidates in the state capital, and 2000 capacity halls in the district headquarters. Modern facilities like parking, CCTV, internet jammers, frisking, instant question paper printer, and strong room locker facilities should be made available for fair and smooth conduct of the examination.
2. Question paper leakage
Question paper leakage has often occurred in the past and has been the focal point of public distrust. The point of distrust is that the person who sets and compiles the question paper is a human being. The question paper can also be dripped for cash or other obligations.
In modern and common examination centres ‘on-spot question papers’ can be generated from the question banks by a draw of lots. The question ‘question bank’, consisting of many questions within the prescribed syllabus, shall be kept ready in a computer.
3. Optical mark recognition manipulation
In between the completion of the examination and the OMR scanning, the OMR operator and the recruitment team may manipulate the OMR by putting the correct answer to blank bubbles/circles of their preferred candidates to increase his score.
A third-party monitoring team, comprising not less than five members, including representatives from the aspirants and NGOs, should be appointed to see that the examination is conducted as per the laid down rules. The photocopy of the OMR sheet of each candidate shall be collected from the examination hall by the third-party monitoring team and it should be kept in a sealed cover. The OMR sheet of the successful candidate shall be cross-checked by the team once after the result is declared.
4. Walk-in interview
Walk-in interview is one heaven where you can do any manipulation as you like. Walk-in interviews should be banned permanently by an ordinance. If it is an obligation to go for recruitment through a walk-in interview, then a minimum 80 percent of the mark should be awarded to candidates by evaluating from the candidates’ past academic records from Class 10 onwards and 20 percent by interview.
Conclusion
Zero dishonesty in recruitment is the only solution visible to win the confidence of the public in the matter of recruitment, either by a department or the board. The authority may examine for implementation of the system in the recruitment process in the future.
Dishonesty in recruitment is the root cause of inferior quality in the education system.
Sincerely,
Dr Kirki Ori