Monday, December 21, 2009

[ZESTCaste] Social equity? Not in govt jobs and promotions

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_social-equity-not-in-govt-jobs-and-promotions_1325848

Monday, December 21, 2009 2:42:00 AM

Social equity? Not in govt jobs and promotions

Vineeta Pandey / DNA


The government's social equity policy does not reflect in its
functioning. Despite reservation for scheduled castes (SC) and
scheduled tribes (ST) in government jobs and promotions, there is not
a single SC at the secretary level.

Of the 874 central government officers posted at various levels, only
45 belong to SC and 23 to ST category. Not a single SC is among the 88
IAS officers posted as secretary in various central ministries. There
are four secretaries who belong to ST category though.

Among the 66 additional secretaries, there is only one officer each
from SC and ST category. Of the 249 joint secretaries, there are only
13 officers from SC and 9 from ST. And of the 471 director-level
officers, only 31 are SC and 9 ST.

Upset with the disparity, the National Commission for SC (NCSC) has
sought an explanation from the government. "We have asked the
secretary of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) to
explain this," commission chairman Buta Singh said. A commission
member even hinted at bias. "There are many suitable people, but why
are SCs/STs not picked up for top posts? One cannot rule out bias,"
NCSC member Mahendra Boddh said.

Dalit activist Udit Raj minced no words though. "The bias against
competent SC/ST officers during the empanelment of joint secretaries
stops them from becoming secretaries," he said.

DoPT clarified that officers on these posts are appointed on
deputation from various cadres. Therefore, the percentage of SC/ST
officers on these posts need not be the same as in their respective
cadres. The posts of secretary, additional secretary and joint
secretary in the ministries and departments are not promotion posts,
like those in the ministry of external affairs where posts of these
designations are cadre posts.

Under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), the posts of secretary,
additional secretary, joint secretary and director are filled with
officers from various cadres, including state cadres, who are
empanelled from a list of those who opt for deputation under the CSS.

"There is no provision of reservation for SCs/STs in these posts.
However, at the time of empanelment, every effort is made to empanel
SC/ST officers, if needed by adopting liberal benchmarks," said
Prithviraj Chavan, minister of state in the ministry of personnel,
public grievances and pensions.

An official claimed there is usually a shortfall of SC/ST officers
during recruitment, which carries on till the end and is reflected in
appointments of secretaries. UPSC had recommended only 34 candidates
belonging to SC, 28 to ST and 136 to OBC during 2007-08, against 249
posts reserved for them in civil services, the official said.


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