Govt staff need to undergo training and clear exam for promotions

Thiruvananthapuram: With the approval of recommendations from the Administrative Reforms Commission, it would be mandatory for the government staff to undergo training and clear examination for promotions.

The state government has in principle approved segmentation of government employees into six strata. The cabinet has assigned Chief Secretary to consult with Additional Chief Secretaries of administrative reforms, finance and planning departments and decide on how to go about with the practical implementation.

Until now, the segmentation was based on salary scale. The new method of segmentation is aimed at improving performance of the government employees. The government earlier had decided to adopt the Union government-like measure to train personnel in delivery responsibilities and exercising authority. The new measure is an extension of that and is imbibed from the recommendations forwarded by Administrative Reforms Commission headed by former CM VS Achuthanandan.    

At present, with appointment order a PSC appointee directly enters job. More often, they do not receive even the basic training. During a later period, the senior staff trains them. The new employee follows the same practices of the senior. The recommendations are aimed at fixing this issue.   

The employee need to score grade five or above. If they are not successful in achieving it, further training will be provided. Similarly, no new posts for trainers will be created.

Meanwhile, many other recommendations will also be imbibed to improve performance of the employees. In each sector external experts will be involved.

Special training section will be formed under employee-administrative reform department. Employees from different department will be rejigged in it. An online platform will be started. Only employees who have completed first phase of training will be considered for gazetted posts. Similarly, those who have completed second phase of training will be considered for middle level management promotions. Those appointed in gazetted posts or middle level management will be provided training in each phase all together.  Institute of Management in Government (IMG) will act as the state-level apex training centre.

The six segmentation are as follows:

1. Supporting staff: Driver, office assistant, data entry, office job supporting staff
2. Cutting edge: Officials including village officers, clerks who interact with public directly during commencement of their service
3. Supervisory: Section officers, senior assistant and other supervisory staff
4. Lower management: Undersecretary and others in allied posts
5. Middle management: Deputy secretary, additional secretary and officials in the equivalent positions
6. Senior management: Special secretary

(IAS officials are not considered under this strata)