The Telangana government is planning to conduct a mandatory “e-knowledge” test in addition to the qualifying examination as part of recruitment to fill 25,000 posts on priority basis through Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). The aspiring candidates have to clear the e-knowledge test by proving their computer (IT) skills in files management to grab the posts, filling of which has been announced recently by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Those in the bureaucratic echelons are of the view that the e-knowledge test has become necessary to remove lethargy in the administration, particularly at the middle and entry level as files are built up manually even now though nearly all the offices have computers. Knowledge in information technology will help the employees in file circulation electronically leading to swift process and speedy decisions. The government is understood to be planning to even appoint some IT experts to implement the e-governance, which practically exists for namesake.
Red-tapism and women’s welfare
The police of Hyderabad brought back 10 of the 11 women who escaped from the State Home at Yousufguda, just a week after the incident took place on June 3. But, the institute ended up in limelight for all the wrong reasons a second consecutive time within days, when three of the women who were forced to return attempted suicide, only to be rescued by the Home administration.
Even as the Women and Child Welfare Department plans to go for a complete overhaul of the rescue and stay operations in Homes to suit the comfort of female inmates, questions are being raised against the administration as it regularly prevented even family members from meeting the inmates. While a majority of the women now want to go home, lack of periodical review of court cases prevent them from leaving the Home.
According to officials of the State Commission for Women, an earnest attempt to clear off court cases that are pending for two to three years will put the inmates at ease. If the administrative red tape takes a backseat, peace could return to the Home, which is an institution meant to support women in distress.
Bifurcation has not brought them cheers
The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has not brought cheers to last grade employees of Telangana as over 500 of them were shown the door. They were given orders to work in Andhra Pradesh while about 250 others from Andhra Pradesh were shifted to Telangana. The reason for a large number of last grade employees as drivers having to go to Andhra Pradesh is that there were not enough posts for them in that category in Telangana. So, they were adjusted in posts in AP although they worked in Telangana all these years.
The employees’ organisations have given a political twist to the development saying it was the result of Andhra rulers all along recruiting not so literate people from Telangana only in low posts. They filled up the higher posts with natives of Andhra and left the lower ones to Telangana.
Skill development programme for staff
The General Administration Department of Telangana Secretariat recently announced that it will shortly organise training classes in administration and skill development for all categories of its staff.
The GAD officials pointed out that the reason for the programme was increase in work load of staff as the spillover of bifurcation took a heavy toll in all the departments. They also explained that the staff had no recreational facilities that largely helped them relieve stress after the reallocation of buildings within the Secretariat in the wake of bifurcation.
The officials were perhaps right because the employees were often seen at the recreation centre and gymnasium for hours even after closure of their offices at 5 p.m. everyday.
REPORTING BY
B. CHANDRASHEKHAR, NIKHILA HENRY,
N. RAHUL
