Shillong : Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has hit back at the Voice of the People Party (VPP) over its criticism of Education Department Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Mantri, challenging the party to identify an officer it considers more capable of handling the department.
Rymbui said Mantri is a hardworking and highly capable officer who has played a key role in implementing reforms in the Education Department.
He said several improvements had been brought about under Mantri’s leadership, particularly in matters related to the payment of salaries to teachers and other departmental issues.
The minister’s remarks came after the VPP criticised Mantri and demanded his removal from the Education Department, alleging that the government had failed to ensure salary payments to deficit teachers in the state.
Rymbui said it was inappropriate to tarnish the reputation of an officer without a genuine basis, maintaining that Mantri’s performance should be assessed on the work undertaken by the department under his leadership.
