Staff strength to be cut by 30 per cent

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 28. A series of austerity measures has been adopted by the State Government as part of the financial reforms announced today. It also includes a VRS package.

A Government release said staff strength ``shall be reduced by 30 per cent over five years''. A suitable voluntary retirement package will be introduced covering employees in the government, public sector undertakings, local bodies and cooperative institutions such as sugar and spinning mills.

The contributory pension scheme proposed by the Centre would also apply to all recruitments to the State Government, local bodies, PSUs and aided educational institutions made on or after December 1, 2001.

The austerity measures include a complete ban on creation of new posts in all departments and redeployment wherever posts are required for operational reasons.

There is also a ban on filling up of vacant posts except in certain departments for certain categories such as teachers, doctors and police constabulary.

A staff review commission will be set up immediately and wage appointments stopped by an executive order.

Wherever possible, services and job activities such as those of securitymen and drivers will be outsourced to job contractors.

After examining the legal issues, action will be taken to appoint temporary teachers on a contract basis at a lower cost.

Changes have been made in respect of travel allowances of government servants. Besides, encashment of earned leave has been suspended for a year. The minimum required interval between two payments of temporary advance from the provident fund is to be increased from six to 12 months.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Pay for superspeciality treatment
Next     : Govt. had no other option, says Jayalalithaa