No takers for govt bid to improve efficiency

LUCKNOW: The state government’ s move to bring in efficiency in administration through compulsory retirement of officers and employees has fallen victim to inefficiency, according to senior government officials.

“In all, only 201 officials posted in 60 government departments have been compulsorily retired. Screening committees constituted for IAS and PCS officers have also failed to identify any officer for compulsory retirement,” a senior officer familiar with the developments said.

Announced on July 6, 2017, the exercise aimed at identifying officers and employees in the age group over 50 years for compulsory retirement from service.

“We have sent reminders to all the departments to complete the exercise. They have been asked to hold meetings of screening committees to identify officers and employees by March 31 and send information by April 2,” the officer said.

The UP government has the staff strength of 22 lakh (about 8 lakh government employees) including teaching, non-teaching and PSUs employees and identification of only 201 personnel

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In all, only 201 officials posted in 60 government departments have been compulsorily retired. Screening panels formed for officers have also failed to identify any officer for compulsory retirement

SENIOR GOVT OFFICIAL

speaks volumes about the failure of the exercise.

Though the decision to set up screening committees to identify inefficient personnel was taken way back in 1985, the Yogi Adityanath government issued fresh orders on July 6 and July 16 last year asking the departments to complete the exercise by July 31, 2017.

Later, the deadline was extended till September 15 and again till October 16.

According to officials, the government has sent yet another reminder as most of the departments have yet to complete the process and furnish necessary information.

In a reminder to all the additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries, special secretary (personnel) Anita Srivastava said: “Most departments have not given the required information to personnel section. I have been asked to send the information immediately. This should include the information given on telephone or through other electronic modes of communication.”

“We have asked departments to complete the process by March 31, therefore, a fresh reminder has been sent on March 28,” said additional chief secretary Deepak Trivedi.

President of Uttar Pradesh Employees and Teachers Coordination Front BP Mishra said the exercise was bound to fail due to the opposition from organisations representing the employees.

“We met chief secretary Rajive Kumar and chief minister Yogi Adityanath to lodge our protest. We are not opposed to action against inefficient staff but we are against fixing the age group of 50-60 years for action. Officers and employees in this age group have more responsibilities towards their families. Any action at this stage will be a punishment to their families,” said Mishra.