Alleged illegal recruitment by Chakma District Council behind Tuesday’s violence

The Census of Government Employees 2015 puts the number of all government employees at 59,612 across the state, with close to 38,000 educated youth currently seeking employment with the government. Mizoram has a total population of slightly less than 11 lakhs, according to the 2011 census.

A statement by the Mizoram Chakma Students Union on July 30 said these appointments were made “without following any established Recruitment Rules (i.e. Without Advertisement, Written Test and Interview). The appointments have been made mostly for the closed relatives of political leaders directly ranging from Chowkidar, Teacher, LDC, UDC to Assistant posts.”

The MCSU lists out the following posts: 14 assistants, 12 UDCs, 39 LDC, 3 accountants, one judicial officer, 13 teachers, one technical consultant, 2 translators, 2 drivers, 1 CA-II, one speedboat driver, 6 chowkidars and 6 peons.

The students union said these are as per the documents in its possession and that the actual number “may be more”.

The appointments were allegedly made between January to July, and a memorandum asking for their revocation and calling for fresh appointments to be done on the basis of new recruitment rules was submitted to CADC chief executive member Buddhalila Chakma on July 14.

An ultimatum was also served stating that the demands be met within 15 days.

Once that deadline lapsed, the union and the supportive Young Chakma Association said they would intensify strikes and protests if a deadline extension of three days was not met either.

The union also demanded Buddhalila Chakma’s resignation over the issue. Tuesday’s bandh call was part of that intensified agitation.