Aizawl, Mizoram Tourism Services Association, which represents officials and workers of the tourism department, on Wednesday supported the state government’s decision to appoint retired official R Lalrodingi as director of the department.
Mizoram’s influential student organisation, Mizo Zirlai Paul, has accused Chief Minister Laldahoma of blatant nepotism over the reappointment of Lalrudinge as director of tourism after her retirement.
In a statement, the association expressed its deep regret over a student organization preventing officers and employees from entering the Tourism Directorate and halting official work.
She said that the state government decided to appoint Lalrudinji as director of the Tourism Department because it understood the difficulties faced by the ministry and welcomed the matter.
The association explained that the appointment of Lalrudinji will not prevent the promotion of joint directors and other officials and will not affect job opportunities for educated youth.
“The director position cannot be filled by direct recruitment. Instead, it is a promotional position to be filled sequentially only after a joint director completes the required qualifying service,” the statement said, adding that only candidates with a tourism and hospitality major are eligible for subsidiary positions within the department.
Lalrudinji, who retired as Additional Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industries on April 30, was re-employed by the government, giving dual duties of Director Tourism as well as OSD to the Prime Minister with effect from May 1 through an order issued on April 24.
However, on 15 May, the government rescinded the order and decided that she would only continue as OSD to the Prime Minister after MZP met with Prime Minister Laldahoma and urged him to cancel her re-engagement as Director of Tourism on 13 May.
The government changed its decision again on May 22 and ordered Lalrudingi to take on the additional responsibility of Director of Tourism with immediate effect.
The Mizoram Tourism Services Association clarified that Lalrudingi’s appointment was not a promotion, as the posts of Additional Director in the Department of Commerce and Industry and Director of Tourism carry the same salary level.
She noted that Lalrudinji had been holding the dual responsibilities of OSD to the Prime Minister and Director of Tourism since February 9, 2024.
She said the current arrangement is merely a continuation of a temporary arrangement due to the lack of qualified officers to fill the position of director.
“There is still a great need for her experience and expertise as the ministry is currently undertaking many new initiatives,” the statement said.
Defending the government’s decision to re-hire a retired official, MTSA pointed out that the central and state governments often re-hire retired officials when necessary in the public interest.
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