[ Bengia Ajum ]
ITANAGAR, 25 Oct: The All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) has alleged that the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) and a few self-centered social activists are responsible for derailing the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) paper leakage issue.
ANSU president Nabam Dodum, while addressing the media at the Arunachal Press Club here on Wednesday, stated that despite ANSU’s hard work to ensure the success of the 13-point demands jointly placed by the union and PAJSC to the state government, attempts were made to discredit ANSU.
“The 13-point demand was placed by us. Despite disagreements with PAJSC on certain points, we backed them in the greater interest of the state. We worked very hard on this issue. However, slowly, some people started to hijack the issue with the motive of becoming heroes overnight. We wanted a logical solution, but these people were mostly interested in becoming heroes overnight. PAJSC is responsible for messing up this issue,” said Dodum. He also alleged that the government played a divide-and-rule policy when dealing with the APPSCE paper leakage issue. “Instead of fighting together, we were busy fighting against each other. To a certain extent, PAJSC created the scenario which helped the government to easily divide the people,” he added. Dodum also alleged that despite working so hard, ANSU and its leadership were portrayed as villains in this whole episode. He also highlighted the various initiatives taken by ANSU to streamline the APPSC.
“My team had taken up five important issues regarding APPSC after assuming charge of ANSU. These include making PRC a mandatory prerequisite for appearing in examinations conducted by APPSC, compulsory inclusion of regional topics, Arunachal Pradesh in specific, and Northeast India in general in the syllabus, setting up a dedicated grievances redressal cell to address examination-related grievances, upholding a 1:3 ratio for viva-voce, and lastly reviewing the physical standard test and physical efficiency test for Arunachal Police service,” said Dodum. He shared that all five important points raised by ANSU have been fulfilled by the government.
“The high-level committee constituted to examine the demand for making PRC a mandatory prerequisite for appearing in examinations conducted by APPSC has recommended that candidates should produce an Arunachal Pradesh PRC when applying for exams conducted by the commission. Also, a gazette notification has been issued, informing the introduction of Regional Topics pertaining to Arunachal Pradesh, in specific, and Northeast India, in general, in the syllabus for different examinations by amending Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 2029,” said Dodum.
Furthermore, he shared that the cabinet noted the demand for strengthening the grievance redressal mechanism, and the AR department was directed to process the matter forthwith in consultation with the APPSC and personnel department.
“The demand of ANSU for upholding a 1:3 ratio for viva-voce was considered, and subsequently, the rules relating to ‘Minimum Qualifying Marks’ for the recruitment of Group-A, B & C Posts/Services & Common Examination Scheme (Group-C Posts) Rules have been framed, wherein it is clearly mentioned in the provision that the commission shall maintain a ratio of 1:3 with respect to vacant positions reserved for APST and PwD candidates,” the union added.
The state government also fulfilled ANSU’s demand for amending the Arunachal Pradesh Police Service Rules and reduced the minimum height requirement from 158 cm to 152 cm to enable the recruitment of more female candidates in the state police service, informed Dodum.
