Editor,
The recent revelation of the paper leakage episode has cast the darkest shadows on the already tainted reputation of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), which is supposedly the premier recruiting institution of the state.
This episode is another reminder of the precarious situation of the demographic dividend of the state, ie, the young unemployed workforce.
Despite being among the least populous state of under 14 lakhs population as per the 2011 census, the state is a victim of being among the states with highest unemployment rate in the country. In these scenarios, apart from being one of the states with least job creations, the recruitment institutions of the state like APPSC and APSSB (Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board) have miserably failed the young unemployed aspirants, and in short, have failed the state.
There are various possible consequences that can result due to faulty recruitment systems. Some of them are:
1) Possible social disharmony in the coming times as a result of the unprecedented rise of insurgencies and other antisocial organisations due to chronic widespread unemployment.
2) Spike in depression and suicide rates in the state that is already visible.
3) Complete loss of faith in the fair play and justice system. Hence, the value of education will attain an uncontrollable freefall.
4) The system will be deprived of competent officers and leadership.
We are clearly staring at a dangerous trajectory the state is heading towards. If the present is deplorable, then the future is simply unimaginable. The recent paper leakage scam that got unearthed is only the tip of the iceberg. There is a certain deja vu. Right from the inception of the APPSC, the institution has witnessed most shocking scams, one after the other almost every year.
Now, the scams of the 2015 paper leakage episode which was a distant memory till now is suddenly striking a glaring prominence, the hunger strikes, lathi charges, unending protests, water cannons and repeated appeals and legal battles year after year is taking a toll on every single aspirant from the very beginning until now.
Now it’s becoming very clear why the APPSC was seriously desperate on conducting the examination process in suspicious manner in the midst of the unprecedented hunger strikes and dharnas in 2017, conveniently dividing the aspirants in the process by labelling the protesters as non-serious, mischievous thugs, manipulative, etc.
Even the parents and societies were misled by the commission through its divide-and-rule tactics.
Now it’s becoming much more clear why the APPSC examinations of 2021-22 was proceeded notoriously, without complying the standard ratio of 1:3, which otherwise was absolutely necessary to ensure fair competition in the viva voce.
Other examinations conducted by the APPSC, like agricultural development officer examination, horticulture development officers, assistant engineer exams and many more are under the clouds of doubts and suspicions, more so due to the disturbing recent revelations where certain official from the commission (APPSC) Taket Jerang, who coincidentally has served the commission since 1992, has been caught leaking paper for money. People are now questioning every examination conducted by the APPSC during his tenure in the commission.
This also compels people to question the involvements of higher-ups over the years, as such rampant scams over the years were not possible without the knowledge and involvements of the higher-ups and other members.
In all these controversies, the biggest losers are the honest and hardworking aspirants.
Thousands of people have been unfairly deprived almost every year with many having already crossed the age bar and many more on the verge of following suit, all due to the blunders and inefficiencies of the commission.
Many aspirants from humble backgrounds, who couldn’t even afford rented homes in the state capital, have either sold off their lands back home or have taken loans to prepare for the examinations. Now, who will take care of their losses? Many have literally called off their marriages, birthdays, anniversaries and other important occasions and even their leisure times just to prepare for the examinations. And when the scams and blunders emerge on the surface, there is only pain, heartbreak and despair.
The recent revelations have seriously devastated the whole state and the entire student fraternity who are burning their midnight oils in preparing for these examinations. As per the recent press briefing of the commission, they have enlightened about some questionable developments within the commission on the formation of ‘internal audit committee’ to investigate the issues and also they stated that the culprit Taket Jerang was not part of the examination process in contention. Some serious doubts have been established here. The concerned commission that is under the scanner setting up a committee to investigate themselves or their wrongdoings is a mockery of accountability and transparency and also if Taket Jerang was not part of the examination process how could he accesses the question papers? In addition to that, the insensitive remarks like “We are not responsible for the past wrongdoings” when asked about the repeated blunders by the Commission or a response like “Go to the court” when asked about the age bar issues due to delayed examination process as a result of the flawed recruitment system, not only further devastates the deeply pained aspirants to an imaginable extent but is also a stinging blow on the desperately wounded, helpless, hardworking and honest aspirants. This only further deepens the scepticism and despair.
At this juncture, anything less than a complete overhaul of the recruiting institution (APPSC) is unacceptable. Therefore, for the complete overhaul of the system and to restore the faith of the people, the following must be ensured:
1) Immediate suspension and replacement of the chairman, secretary and all the members of the APPSC, if they have not morally resigned voluntarily.
2) An impartial investigation against the chairman, secretary and members of the commission must be immediately initiated.
3) The culprit Taket Jerang must be impartially investigated with respect to all the past examination processes conducted by the APPSC during his tenure as a servant in the APPSC.
4) The chief minister with the portfolio of department of personnel must hold a moral ground and immediately intervene, and ensure a fair and impartial time-bound investigation.
5) UPSC must be endorsed to conduct the examinations if there are persistent competency crisis.
6) Age relaxation for the aspirants must be raised upto 40 years as a compensation for repeated delayed examination processes.
7) The internal audit committee set up by the APPSC must be replaced with an impartial high-level committee after the suspension or resignation of the commission chairman, secretary and members.
8) All the culprits must be thoroughly and impartially investigated for their past actions and related connections.
Tadak Nalo