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Cabinet to consider CBEC revamp plan next month

Hema Ramakrishnan

NEW DELHI, May 27

THE Finance Ministry has finalised the proposal on restructuring of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) which entails, among other things, a five per cent cut in staff strength. The Union Cabinet is set to consider the proposal next month, acc ording to senior officials.

The proposed revamp plan of the CBEC is somewhat similar to the restructuring of the income-tax department as the core objective in both cases is to improve efficiency in tax administration through induction of information technology and enhance revenue mobilisation. The revamp plan will therefore be linked to some milestones, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) being entered between the CBEC and the Finance Ministry.

Currently, the strength of the CBEC is close to 68,000 -- which is inclusive of Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D staff. Of this, nearly 1,700 employees belong to Group A and close to 21,000 employees (or roughly 30 per cent) to Group C.

The proposed restructuring plan envisages a five per cent cut in employee strength -- by and large through non-fulfillment of vacant posts, particularly in Group C and D. The I-T department's restructuring exercise also entailed a 4.75 per cent cut in th e workforce comprising 57,989 employees.

Career prospects are set to improve at the senior level in the CBEC with the proposed addition of nearly 400 posts. The number of posts of chief commissioners and commissioners are to be nearly doubled to 47 and 270 respectively.

Representations have already been shot off to the Finance Ministry by a section of employees belonging to Group C category seeking better promotional avenues and upgradation of pay-scales. While close to 3,000 posts are proposed to be abolished in this c ategory, sources maintain that a bulk of the pruning is through the normal process of attrition.

``The dismantling of regulations and controls along with induction of information technology has necessitated a revamp of the customs and excise department, which was traditionally highly manpower-oriented. A case has also been made for a separate Depart ment of Litigation,'' said officials.

The Finance Ministry is understood to be keen on obtaining a Cabinet clearance before the Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee's departure to Mumbai early next month.