Tripura's BJP government announces new recruitment policy
Agartala, May 19 : As per pre-poll promise, the BJP government in Tripura on Saturday announced new recruitment policy and annulled the earlier employment rules framed by the previous Left Front government, a senior minister said.
"The state government framed new recruitment policy for recruiting government employees in Tripura. The cabinet also cancelled the earlier employment policy framed by the previous Left Front government," Education and Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath told the media after a cabinet meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also holds the home portfolio and also the Chief of Bharatiya Janata Party Pradesh Committee.
Nath, accompanied by Agriculture and Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, said that the BJP framed the new recruitment policy because it wanted transparency and fairness.
"The earlier government while recruiting employees has done political favouritism, partiality and ignore the quality candidates. From now onwards, written examination would be done for recruiting employees for the the group "C" and group "D" posts. In some cases (ten per cent) interview would be taken for the technical posts. The entire interview process would also be videographed."
The minister said that to recruit government employees for the group "C" and group "D" posts a separate institution would be constituted and the existing Tripura Public Service Commission would be further strengthen for selecting best candidates for the required government posts.
He said that the cabinet also modified the existing pension system giving preferences to the parents of the expired employees.
Nath said the government would soon promulgate an ordinance to authorize Block Development Officers and Panchayat Secretaries to deal the financial matters as 50 per cent Gram Pradhan (panchayat chief) either resigned or not attending office after the BJP led government came to power on March 9.
The BJP government on Saturday also decided to enhance the salaries and allowances of the Judicial officers with effect from January 2016.
Opposition Congress while reacting to the new recruitment policy of the BJP government, has urged the government to give preferences to the politically victimised and overaged educated youths and to set up Staff Selection Commission like institution to recruit government employees.
"The BJP government should undertake a special drive to fill up those vacant posts reserved for the tribals and scheduled caste communities," state Congress Vice-President and former legislator Tapas Dey told the media.
Meanwhile, the BJP within five days after assuming office on March 9, had stopped the recruitment process except those initiated under the court's directions raising criticism from the opposition parties.
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Police making efforts to locate, recover weapons disposed of by Maoists: Karnataka Home Minister
Bengaluru, Jan 10: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said that six surrendered Maoists have not handed over their weapons, and the police are working to locate and recover them from the forest where they are believed to have been disposed of.
Noting that one Maoist, expelled from the surrendered group, is still at large and efforts are underway to trace him, he said there is no one else involved in Naxal activities in the state. He added that any individuals coming from other states will be closely monitored.
A group of six Maoists surrendered to the government in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his home office, ‘Krishna,’ on Wednesday evening.
The group includes four individuals from Karnataka: Mundagaru Latha from Sringeri, Vanajakshi Balehole from Kalasa, Sundari Kutluru from Dakshina Kannada, and Mareppa Aroli from Raichur. The other two are Vasantha K from Vellore in Tamil Nadu and N Jeesha from Wayanad in Kerala.
"We need to search for the weapons. It is not yet known where they were disposed of in the forest, but efforts are underway in that direction," Parameshwara told reporters in response to a question.
Addressing the BJP's allegation that the government prioritised rehabilitation for Maoists over recovering their weapons, he said, "They keep making such claims. The government will do its job. We may need to gather information from the Maoists about where the weapons were hidden and seek their assistance. There are procedures, and they will be followed."
The BJP has also been in government, and they are aware of this. It was the same police department during their tenure, he added.
The six surrendered Maoists will be rehabilitated under categories 'A' and 'B' of the Naxal Surrender Policy, Karnataka 2024, and will each receive Rs 3 lakh.
In response to a question about reports that another Maoist, Ravindra, is still at large, the Home Minister said, "According to the information we have, this group had expelled him, but the reasons are not yet known. Efforts are underway to trace him, and he is believed to be in the Chikkamagaluru region."
Regarding the surrendered Maoists, the Home Minister stated that they were the last active Maoists in the state.
He added, "If anyone comes from other states, it will be closely monitored. There is a possibility of individuals coming from Odisha or Kerala, and we will remain vigilant. The government is making efforts to discourage Naxalism. According to our information, no one else is currently involved in such activities in the state."
The surrender followed the killing of Maoist leader Vikram Gowda in an encounter with the Anti-Naxal Force at Peetabailu village in Hebri, Udupi district, on November 18, 2024.
When asked about Vikram Gowda's family seeking compensation in light of the package being provided to surrendered Maoists, Parameshwara said, "It will be verified. Both cases are different."
