Haryana hires fairly

The Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana has in the past four years spread joy in the state with its single-minded goal of employing youth purely on the basis of merit, in a transparent manner. For a people fed up with the rampant and large-scale nepotism and corruption that had ruled the recruitment scenario for decades prior to Khattar’s assumption of office in 2014, this is one achievement of the present government that they cannot stop glorifying. The common man feels that the sacrifices he has endured to educate his children have been worth it when he proudly finds them landing jobs by dint of sheer hard work and acing the qualifying examinations. Just as it should be — and, should have always been. It is not surprising that this goodwill translated into votes for the BJP in the recent MC elections and the Jind Assembly bypoll. Even his rivals have grudgingly acknowledged the taming of the beast of caste and cash that had been the determining factors.

The thousands of vacancies filled with meritorious youth after strengthening the Haryana Staff Selection Commission include the whole spectrum of jobs — policemen, class IV staff, clerks, groups C and D employees, even placements in the private sector following skill development opportunities provided to the youth. The round of interviews has been done away within groups C and D categories, as has been done in many other states, to speed up the process and minimise nepotism. In its latest decision designed to clean up the act and arbitrariness in filling senior posts, the Haryana Government has announced that henceforth, group C staff would enter the prestigious HCS only through a written test and interview. 

Now the onus of keeping the administration clean rests with these fresh and young recruits. Having entered the corruption-riddled government system on a fair note, they must not let any blot smear their credentials. The fairness must seep into their work. There will be no better endorsement for this feat than the same common man also getting his just dues in all other matters, specially those involving the police and revenue officials.