VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh State Public Service Commission (APPSC), which recruits manpower for various government departments, is itself facing an acute staff crisis. The Commission presently has only 123 employees as against the sanctioned strength of 445 to run the affairs. Several requests made to the State government by the Commission seeking permission for filling the vacancies fell on deaf ears.
The APPSC in the undivided State had 300 employees in 34 sections and it used to conduct 175 recruitment tests for various jobs in government departments. After the State bifurcation, more than half the number of employees chose to stay with the Telangana Public Service Commission, leaving the APPSC severely crippled.
Apart from 123 permanent employees, the Commission relies on 67 outsourcing staff. As if its normal responsibilities are not enough, the APPSC was recently entrusted with recruitment of teachers for government schools, faculty for universities and various corporations.
To manage all this growing burden, the Commission is finding it difficult with such a skeletal staff.
The Commission a year ago had sent a proposal to the State government asking for permission to recruit staff.
However, the file is still pending with the Finance Department. Speaking to Express, Uday Bhaskar, APPSC Chairman, said, “We have a severe staff shortage right from the division of the APPSC. Due to staff shortage, all the employees are forced to multi-task. There is a huge workload on us,” said Uday Bhaskar.