Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the embarrassment that was faced by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), following its hesitant acceptance of the State Government’s recommendation to extend the rank lists, has instigated its members to spread falsehood that the Government was would soon reduce the number of posts in the public sector.
Inaugurating the 26th State Convention of the Kerala Gazetted Officers’ Union (KGOU) here on Sunday, Mr. Chandy said that a political attitude existed among the members of PSC and this has led to a scenario where they have been at loggerheads with the State Government on various issues. “The PSC has never opposed any of the demands that were put forth by the previous LDF government. However, this was not the case when the UDF had come into power. When the present Government had demanded for an increase in the validity of the rank lists, the PSC members had vehemently expressed their opposition without any hesitation. The Government would never have criticized them if their opposition was one that was made in order to protect the greater interests of the state. However, they had maintained an opposing stand even after many among them were convinced by the intention that had necessitated the demand.”
“During the period from April 1 to November 30, 2001, the State Government had brought to the notice of the PSC the vacancies that had existed in more than 41,000 posts. However, the Commission had adviced candidates for only approximately 19,000 posts so far, following which I had urged the Commission’s Chairman and the members to expedite the process. Why would the Government make substantial efforts in creating employment opportunities if it was bent on cutting down the number of existing posts, according to what is being alleged?”, he asked.
He added that the UDF Government has ensured that more than 20,000 persons, many of those who have been in service for many years, received permanent sources of income. “As a result of the teachers’ package that has been approved by the State Cabinet, a system has been implemented, thereby, ensuring regular salary for as many as 15,553 teachers, who have not been receiving their salaries for many years.
In addition, more than 3000 persons have been made permanent employees of the Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). Of those made permanent, many had been in service for more than 10 years”, he said.
Moreover, nearly 3000 posts had been newly-created in the Police Department as part of the Government’s efforts in strengthening the Janamaithri community policing scheme, and constituting the security system for the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and an agency for industrial security in the State, Mr. Chandy pointed out.
