Overflowing OSD pool
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister disclosed in parliament that 81 government officials including 20 secretaries and additional secretaries have been kept as officers on special duties (OSD) for various reasons. On 07-09-09, the government also promoted 494 senior civil servants and asked them to join as OSD at the establishment ministry as there is shortage of the required posts / jobs for them. It is learnt that this large-scale promotion is a part of a major reshuffle plan of the government and these promoted officials were mostly overlooked in the last seven years.
Everybody knows that an officer on special duty actually does not have any official-duty although he / she is entitled to all benefits and privileges. It is not difficult to understand the reasons behind this action of the government, but it is least expected considering the very recent history that the politicians had to digest. This government is doing the same thing that its opponent did i.e. giving promotions and other privileges to its own people and keeping aside those of other views. Neither over-staffing nor under-staffing is accepted in case of an efficient organisation. Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, the former cabinet secretary, is right in his apprehension that there would be unfair competition among the promoted officials to get better posts and they would then end up getting involved in politics. In addition, as stated in an editorial of the DS, that 526 officials who have either been superseded or denied consideration, will not be sitting idle.
But the question is how long would this unhealthy practice be the normal course of action by the political governments! The people always elect a political party with the hope of getting a reasonably fair and impartial service from their government but in reality the general people are being deprived while the government only looks after the interest of their party-people. On the other hand, the government employees who are the servants of the republic have miserably failed to remain impartial and thereby created scope for the political party in power to play this damaging game.
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