Shillong,Aug.29: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) on Tuesday staged a protest in front of the main secretariat here  against the Congress-led government’s adamant attitude towards the demand for increasing the upper age limit for SC/ST candidates appearing for the upcoming civil service examination in the state.

Leaders of the KHNAM-state youth wing also displayed a banner which read “Dr Mukul Sangma, ministers & MLA if you care about the unemployed youth, this is your opportunity to prove to the youth of the state, increase upper age limit for the civil service exams to 40 years. Mizoram – 40 years, Manipur – 40 years, Tripura – 40 years, Assam – 40 years, central gov’t – 37 years, Meghalaya – 32 years ???”.

Earlier, the protesters were not allowed to hold the demonstration without permission. Later permission was granted by the district administration and the protest ended at 5 pm.

KHNAM – SYW president Thomas Passah said that they have decided to hold the protest after the state government fails to consider the demand to increase the upper age limit of candidates for the exams to 40 years as was done in other states of the region.

There was no positive response even after the party had earlier met the chief secretary and principal secretary in charge personnel department for the government’s intervention into the matter which is related to the unemployment problem faced by the youth in the state.

The KHNAM state youth wing has threatened to seek the Court’s intervention into failure of the state government to address the problems faced by unemployed youths especially the need to increase the upper age limit for civil service exams to 40 years.

“We will be compelled to seek the intervention of the Court if the government refuses to consider increasing the upper age limit for civil service exams which is also mean to address the problem of unemployment in the state,” KHNAM-SYW president Thomas Passah told reporters at the sideline of a placard protest staged in front of main Secretariat here in the city.

He said that if the state government has the political will, it can easily take a call on the matter as it is permitted to do so as per the provision of the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) Rules, 1975.

“We reiterate our demand the state government to take necessary steps for increasing the upper age limit of SC/ST candidates for the exams immediately,” he said while reminding that the last date for submission of application forms will end on August 31.

He said that if the government fails to consider this demand, it will only reflect that it completely lacks political will to address the unemployment problem in the state.

Condemning all the 60 legislators of the state, he said that a campaign for change is needed against the ministers and MLAs, who have lack of interest towards the youths of the state.

Meanwhile, he said it is a shame for the government, which claims of being concern for the youth when the same government is not having the will.

According to him, the MCS rules do permit the government to take steps for relaxing the upper age limit.