The coalition government has initiated a rationalization process for gram and ward secretariats, issuing orders to merge secretariats located within a 10 km radius and implement skill mapping of employees. The decision, aimed at optimizing administrative services, has sparked concerns among employees regarding their future.
Employee Categorization and Rationalization
Under the new orders, the government plans to categorize employees based on their roles and skillsets into three groups:
- Category A: Secretariats with populations over 3,500 will have 6 employees.
- Category B: Secretariats with populations between 2,501–3,500 will have 7 employees.
- Category C: Secretariats with populations below 2,500 will have 8 employees.
The government will also reduce the number of employees in gram and ward secretariats, linking staffing levels to population density.
56,000 Jobs at Risk
Currently, there are 15,004 secretariats employing 1,61,202 employees. With rationalization, staffing will be limited to approximately 1,05,028 employees, leaving around 56,174 employees uncertain about their future.
Key Changes in Secretariat Services
- Mergers: Secretariats within a 10 km radius will be merged to streamline operations.
- Skill Mapping: Employees will be classified as multi-purpose, technical, or aspirational (those skilled in drones, AI, IoT, etc.).
- Expanded Duties: Employees may be reassigned to other government departments post-rationalization.
Impact on Job Aspirants and Current Employees
The decision is expected to halt recruitment for new government jobs for at least five years, as surplus employees will be reassigned to other departments. Current employees might face transfers to distant locations or forced resignations if unwilling to relocate, a move reminiscent of Telangana’s VRO rationalization policy.
Concerns Among Employees
The rationalization process has triggered significant unrest among secretariat employees.
- Loss of local jobs within their home villages.
- Potential impact on financial and family stability due to mandatory transfers.
- Fear of job redundancies and limited career progression opportunities.
This overhaul of the gram and ward secretariat system, initially introduced to deliver government services efficiently at the village level, now raises questions about its long-term sustainability and the welfare of employees.
