Aizawl, May 28 (PTI): R Lalrodingi, a retired official who was recently re-employed by the Mizoram government as OSD to the chief minister and given additional charge as Director of Tourism, stepped down on Thursday from the tourism post following days of protests by the influential student body, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP).
Chief Minister Lalduhoma has accepted her resignation, bringing to an end a standoff that had paralysed the functioning of the Tourism Directorate for three consecutive days, officials said.
Lalrodingi submitted her resignation letter, requesting the chief minister to withdraw her appointment as Tourism Director while protecting the status of the post as a departmental officer position.
The controversy began after the state government issued an order on April 24 re-employing Lalrodingi following her retirement as Additional Director in the Commerce and Industries Department on April 30. Her re-engagement came into effect on May 1.
The move triggered sharp criticism from Mizo Zirlai Pawl, which argued that re-employing retired officials blocks promotional opportunities for serving officers and reduces employment prospects for educated youth.
The organisation demanded the immediate withdrawal of Lalrodingi’s appointment as Tourism Director.
Following a meeting between MZP leaders and the chief minister on May 15, the government withdrew the order appointing her as Tourism Director and decided that she would continue only as OSD to the chief minister.
However, the government reversed its stand again on May 22 and ordered that Lalrodingi would take additional charge as Director of Tourism with immediate effect.
The decision prompted MZP members to stage a picket outside the Tourism Directorate from May 25 to 27, preventing Lalrodingi and other officials from entering the office.
In her resignation letter, Lalrodingi said the agitation had severely disrupted the functioning of the department.
“Due to the intense opposition from the MZP regarding my appointment as director of tourism, the office has virtually remained unable to function normally for the past three days, thereby affecting the smooth progress of tourism development activities,” she wrote.
“I do not believe it is right for me to remain in a position where I disrupt work and make your government appear as though it is showing undue favouritism. Therefore, I request that I be relieved from the post of director of tourism,” she added.
Following her resignation, the MZP cancelled its meeting to decide its future course of action over the issue.
