NEW DELHI, Feb 6 � Close on the heels of the Centre introducing a Bill in the Parliament to divide Tripura-Manipur cadre, the demand for bifurcation of Assam-Meghalaya cadre has been made.
The issue figured at the meeting of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs held here on Monday, when two MPs from the North-east raised the demand introducing a Bill in the Parliament to bifurcate the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, sources said.
Two members of the Standing Committee, Khagen Das and Ramen Deka, suggested that the Centre should further bring amendments to the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act 1971, introduced in the last session of the Parliament for the States of Tripura and Manipur cadre. A separate proposal should be introduced to bifurcate the joint cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS), said sources.
The Union Home Secretary assured to look into the demand and revert with details, sources said.
In Assam-Meghalaya cadre of the IAS, there are 216 posts of which 162 are posted in Assam and rest in Meghalaya.
However, the idea of bifurcation of cadres has evoked mixed response. In neighbouring Meghalaya for instance, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has rejected the demand for bifurcation of the joint cadre.
�The idea of bifurcation of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre is good, but as long as our indigenous population cannot fill the void meant for them, talks for bifurcation of the Central services are irrelevant,� the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, WMS Pariat recently told the media.
According to a senior IAS officer, a feeling prevails that bifurcation of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre may land the young recruits in trouble as they may not be able to extract benefit of the knowledge that contributes to their approach to the varied tribal, cultural and traditional aspects of the people.
Others advocate that Assam and Meghalaya cadre is not the ultimate destination for the civil servants who are entitled to go on deputation to the Centre.
On the other hand, the Manik Sarkar Government in Tripura had been pushing for bifurcation of cadres arguing that increase of population and expansion of governing system up to grass-root level through Panchayat Raj Institutions calls for separate cadre.
