THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Allaying the fears of Secretariat employees about the loss of opportunities for promotion in the event of implementing the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the KAS would enhance the opportunities of Secretariat employees. The Chief Minister said the government’s policy on the civil service was very clear as in the manifesto. He made it clear that his Government had rejected the pay revision commission’s recommendation to implement pay revision once in ten years.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the manifesto had been clear about arriving at a consensus on constituting the State civil service cadre. He pointed out that it was not his government’s decision as it had already been there. The last Cabinet meeting had decided in principle to constitute KAS. He said the Secretariat employees were anxious as they had not understood the facts.
Technology-based admn
He said the government move is to create second-level officials as there has been a dearth of professionals.
They will be given proper training and practical experience before inducting into the service.
The number of KAS officials will be decided on the basis of 10 per cent of the total strength of the second gazetted posts in such departments.
Besides the existing departments, other departments also would be included and the number of cadre strength would be fixed on the basis of a study being conducted by GAD.
In the secretariat, only ten per cent of the Under Secretary posts will be earmarked for KAS. It will be around 15.
As other departments are also included in KAS, Secretariat employees would be able to reach those departments. Besides, Secretariat employees also would be able to get opportunity for getting IAS conferred.
Once KAS is implemented, it would become the Kerala Civil Service. As of now, one-third of the IAS posts to be conferred through promotion is available to the Secretariat employees. Once KAS is implemented, the secretariat employees would get more opportunities.
The Chief Minister clarified that employees could raise their general apprehension before the committee constituted in this regard.