THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government’s move to appoint as many as 500 temporary employees in Oushadhi during the fag end of its tenure has raised many eyebrows.
Despite the Finance Department’s objection to the creation of the posts, the government is learnt to have go ahead with the proposal of filing up the posts before the election notification is out. The government is said to be very much enthusiastic of creating temporary posts even when there are some posts in the pharma company that has to be intimated to the PSC. It is learnt that Cabinet note has been prepared and there is a move to place it before the Cabinet at the earliest.
Ayush secretary M Beena told ‘Express’ that a decision has not been taken till now on the appointments. Stating that the Finance Department has raised its objections against the creation of the post, she said “a final decision has not been taken. The approval of the Finance Department is needed when appointments, even if to temporary posts are made.” But the Cabinet is said to have certain powers to overcome any objection and create the posts. However, sources said that any post, even if it is temporary, is only created only after a feasibility study is conducted. The government here is seen to have not conducted any study with regard to the creation of posts in Oushadhi.
Meanwhile, Oushadhi chairman Johny Nelloor said that recommendations for about 450 posts was sent to the government after a work study was held by a government agency.
“The decision to make the appointments was taken as the present system of recruiting workers through contract system was not financially viable,” he said. Though the chairman claims to have made the recommendation on the basis of a work study, no such study has been done from the government side.
On the Finance Department’s objection, he alleged that the department always created unnecessary issues. “The Chief Minister had even written to the Finance Secretary stating that the creation of posts would only be good for the company,” he said.
Stating that the file had once come before the Cabinet, Nelloor alleged that it was the Chief Secretary who objected to the creation of the posts. It has been sent back to the Finance Department for further clarification on the basis of opinion of the ministers.