With the draft notification for reorganisation of districts to be issued on August 22, Telangana State administration is now focused on allocation of district-level cadre to the newly carved out districts and the issues that can crop up as a consequence of creation of new districts.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao has given instructions to the officials that by Vijaya Dasami, October 11, the day new districts will come into existence, they should become functional in every manner with officers and staff in place in the Collectorates and departments.
Contrary to expectations, creation of new districts will not increase in staff strength as the overall area remains same. The immediate focus is to adjust existing cadre strength, rather than new recruitments, by redeploying employees to the posts in new districts, said sources. Employees will be given ‘Orders to Serve’ in the new districts as was done at the time of united Andhra Pradesh bifurcation to create Telangana State and any grievances would be addressed in due course.
It was also decided not to tinker with the jurisdiction of zilla parishads for now as the command structure will be looked into at the district level.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma held a meeting with Secretaries of all departments at the Secretariat on Wednesday on staffing pattern in district offices of departments, Collectorates, their command structure and allocation of staff ahead of the all-party meeting on new districts on August 20.
Though it is said that 14 new districts will be created, the number still could go up or come down by one or more districts, sources admitted.
The interim arrangement is to deploy employees in the new districts on the basis of seniority and option. Importantly the seniority of the employees in the present district will remain for the rest of their career term in whichever new district they are posted. For promotions too, seniority in the original district will be taken into account. The dislocation of staff on account of new districts will not be more than 50 km to 60 km at the most.
Chief Secretary, secretary to the department concerned and GAD (Services) Secretary will hold department-wise consultations from Thursday to seek views of employee unions/associations.
