Shillong, August 20 : “Every action you take reflects not only upon yourself, but upon the institution you represent and upon the State you serve” said Comingone Ymbon, Minister of Civil Defence & Home Guards, Meghalaya today in the first ever Rozgar Mela organized by the Department in its Parade Ground in Civil Defence & Home Guards Complex, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong.
Addressing a programme where he had distributed appointment letters to 445 new recruits in the Department, the Minister said that the day marks not only the beginning of their professional journey but also the continuation of a proud tradition of service, sacrifice and discipline.
The Minister said that since its inception in the State, the Civil Defence and Home Guards have always stood as pillars of courage and resilience during times of crisis, whether its natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and cyclones, or emergencies such as fires, accidents and law-and-order situations.
Referring to the recruitment process, Ymbon said that its timely and smooth completion despite minor setback in the PET in Shillong, is testament to the commitment of the Government to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment where merit and only merit is the basis for selection.
Vijay Kumar Mantri, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Civil Defence & Home Guards, Government of Meghalaya, while addressing the gathering welcomed the new recruits to the Civil Defence & Home Guards department which he stated was like a big family despite the strict protocol and discipline demanded in a uniform organization. Lauding the successful completion of the whole recruitment process in a smooth and time bound manner, he congratulated the chairman and members of the Central Recruitment Board of the Civil Defence & Home Guards Department for their high level of professionalism and commitment.
Highlighting the active interest and keen participation of the minister, Shri Mantri said that it was indeed very rare to see a minister who takes pain and interest in ensuring that a recruitment process is conducted smoothly and, in a time, bound manner. He added that it was due to the minister’s intervention that the plight of the candidates during the physical efficiency test conducted in Shillong was addressed when the heavy rain damaged the field where the test was conducted.
M.K Sangma, Director of Civil Defence, Meghalaya, Shilong during his welcome address said that entry to Government Service is a bridge that fulfils the aspirations of many. He added that with the new recruits the department will be able to serve the state better whether as an auxiliary to police, or to give a selfless service to protect the nation in time of disaster or war. He informed that soon the department will further recruit another 233 personnel in coming months.
He informed the gathering that in view of the extreme hardship faced by the Home Guards volunteers deployed for traffic duties due to delay in payment of Duty Allowances, their payment would now be made by the Civil Defence & Home Guards department and not the requisitioning agency.
In a bid to strengthen the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) which although short staffed has done tremendous work in aiding the Government in disasters and crisis, Shri Sangma said that the Department has submitted a proposal to Government to subsume the Border Wing Home Guards Battalion so that the rank and file of the battalion will be converted into SDRF. He added that the Border Wing Home Guards Battalion will be raised as originally intended by the Ministry of Home Affairs on voluntary basis with volunteers drawn from the areas of the state bordering Bangladesh.
Earlier in the day, the Minister along with the Commissioner & Secretary, Civil Defence and Home Guards distributed appointment letters to 445 new recruits in the Department which comprised of 4 Sub Inspectors, 284 Guardsman, 17 Drivers and 140 Non-Combatant Employees.
The Central Recruitment Board of Civil Defence & Home Guards had conducted the recruitment for 445 posts within a period of 1 year and 5 months in which more than 22,000 candidates where shortlisted for the first stage i.e. Physical Measurement Test (PMT) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). The candidates qualifying in these test then had to passed the written test and interview to be ultimately selected for the posts.
The other highlights of the day include a Guard of Honour which was accorded to the Chief Guest and a Band display by the Brass Band of the Border Wing Home Guards Battalion and Pipe Bands of the Central Training Institute of Civil Defence & Home Guards.
The programme was also attended by B Mukhim, Jt. Director of Civil Defence, T Nongneng, Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, CD & HG Department and other Officers of the Department.
