Northeast Desk, 4th October: In response to recent allegations of irregularities in the nurse recruitment process, Meghalaya’s Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a detailed statement refuting claims that absentee candidates were shortlisted. The Meghalaya Medical Service Recruitment Board (MMSRB) clarified that the recruitment process, which began in July 2024, has been conducted transparently.
The drive aimed to fill 164 positions for Staff Nurses and 78 for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), attracting over 6,000 applications across both categories. The department outlined several key points to address public concerns:
- Document Verification Timing: According to state policy, document verification was not conducted prior to the written exam. This step will only occur for candidates who qualify based on vacancies.
- Merit-Based Shortlisting: Candidates were shortlisted strictly based on merit. For each vacancy, three times the number of candidates were selected for further evaluation.
- Revised List and Reservation Policies: After objections were raised, a revised list of shortlisted candidates was published, taking into account the state’s reservation policies.
- Transparency in Marks and Roll Numbers: The department announced that all candidates’ roll numbers and marks will be made public following the resolution of ongoing disputes, ensuring complete transparency.
- Duplicate Roll Numbers Clarified: The occurrence of certain roll numbers appearing twice was explained as a result of candidates applying for multiple categories.
- Correction of Roll Number Issue: A specific case involving a mismatched roll number was identified, explained, and promptly corrected.
The department emphasized its commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent recruitment process, ensuring that qualified candidates are chosen based on merit. A Grievance Cell has been established to address any additional concerns raised by candidates.
The MMSRB has assured that the recruitment process will be completed efficiently while upholding fairness. Candidates with grievances are encouraged to approach the newly established Grievance Cell for prompt resolution.