Finance Minister K.M. Mani has said that the government will go in for a recruitment freeze in the State.
Delivering his keynote address at the State conference of the Assistant Vehicle Inspectors Association here on Saturday, Mr. Mani said the Cabinet had already taken a decision not to create new vacancies during the current financial year. The Finance Department had decided not to sanction any new vacancies this year.
This recommendation was approved by the Cabinet, he said.
He made it clear that the creation of new vacancies had to be discussed at the Cabinet-level, since the expenditure on salary and related matters would register corresponding increase.
The Finance Minister dropped a hint that the future of nine Regional Transport Offices and the creation of vacancies there off were hanging fire.
‘‘If we can augment an additional Rs.100-crore from the motor vehicle sector, we can think of the issue of nine offices and creation of new vacancies,’’ Mr. Mani said.
He took a dig at the Public Works Department and said that out of the 1.65-lakh-km of roads in the State, only 20 per cent was really motorable.
Steps had to be initiated to make these roads accident-free, he said.
Inaugurating the meeting, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister for Transport and Forests, said strict action should be initiated against erring drivers.
Special searchHe directed the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) officials to make special search to find out whether the bus employees were wearing name plates.
The Minister assured the employees that the government would give all encouragement to those who discharged their duty in a commendable manner.
