“Any hardship arising out of the schematic political appointment of a non-technical person will be the sole responsibility of the government,” it warned.
TFM Desk
Expressing serious concern over the current stalemate arising out of this appointment, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) extended solidarity and support to the “genuine demand” of the employee of All Manipur Agriculture Department Employees Welfare Organisation (AMADEWO) for appointment of technical person for the post of director of agriculture department.
The ATSUM also implored the state government over the issue for a timely solution acceptable to the department concerned and the people, ATSUM said in a release on Tuesday..
Manipur being one of the states where agriculture and Horticulture are the main occupations for the people both valley and hill, the agriculture department takes a highly important role. However, of late, the agriculture department has been mired by protest and other forms of agitation against appointment of a non-professional as director of the department, the release stated.
Sidelining well trained and experienced officers with technical background in the agricultural sector for the post of director of the department tantamount to questioning the sincerity of the government and the quality of service rendered for the welfare of the farmers of the state, it added.
ATSUM also contended that the director of Agriculture is a technical post which should be manned by a director who has a technical background of agriculture. In the past, the state government used to appoint the director of the department from the staff through a line of promotion on seniority.
However, contrary to the traditional appointment of technical person for the post of director as followed since 1971, and despite several appeals from employees of the Agriculture department to follow the same policy of appointment, the state government, yet again recently appointed an MCS officer as director of the department, it added.
Several like-minded organisations and employees of the agriculture department have raised the matter to the chief minister and agriculture minister against appointment of a non-professional as director of the department. Demand for revocation of the same order has been put forth, yet the state government chooses to remain silent till today, it added.
The apex student body further stated that the inability on the part of the state government to redress the grievances and unable to expeditiously solve the genuine demand of the employee in a timely manner is very unfortunate and very disappointing too, as most of the employees of the agriculture department have started protest and non-cooperation movement.
Considering the importance and role of the agriculture department for the overall growth and development of agriculture production in both the hill and valley, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) will ensure its commitment for effective overall development of agriculture in the state.
While extending solidarity and support to the demand of the employee of agriculture headed by AMADEWO, ATSUM also appealed the state government to ensure that the post of director in agriculture department and its allied sectors such as horticulture, veterinary, sericulture and fisheries are occupied by professionally trained officers of the concern department.
“Any hardship arising out of the schematic political appointment of a non-technical person will be the sole responsibility of the government,” it warned.