DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 14:
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Pankaj Kumar releasing the SIRD souvenir during the meeting in Kohima.[/caption]
THE chief secretary of Nagaland has told departmental officials that no vacancies in the departments should be filled up except through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). The state official has asked the departments to calculate the vacancies for a year in advance and requisition the posts to the commission.
The monthly meeting of administrative- and departmental heads for September was conducted on September 14 at the Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima town. The chief secretary of the state, Pankaj Kumar presided over the program.
The meeting started with review of the minutes of previous meetings and noted topics such as the use of the usage of Biometric Attendance System in the secretariat and the departments. The issue of online payment of electricity bills in Kohima and Dimapur was also another matter that the state officials discussed.
The chief secretary said that no vacancies should be filled up except through the NPSC, he asked the departments to calculate the vacancies for one year in advance and requisition the posts to NPSC. Aspirants to the civil services have met him twice and have complained about the ‘lack of posts in the NPSC examinations’ for this year, he said.
Kumar also said there were changes in the system and that the departments must have to abide by them. The departments that have not requisitioned any post for the 2016 NPSC examinations were made to give reasons during the meeting.
The house also discussed the instructions of the Personnel & Administrative Reforms department on the ban on contract appointments, requisitions to the NPSC and revision of the Rules of Executive Business.
In other matters, officials of the Public Health Engineering Department informed the officials that the online payment facility for water bills has been set for Kohima and Dimapur and expected to have it during the early part of 2017.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar also spoke about ‘deduction of the NPS’ for all the state government employees on time since there was ‘penalty for late payment.’
Secretary for the Land resource Department, Kikheto Sema, highlighted problems that could crop up in the NPS system in the near future. To this, the chief secretary recommended a review of the benefits and ‘problems of NPS system.’
On corporate social responsibility (CSR), Pankaj Kumar emphasized the need to get ready with the list of companies and corporation that will fall under the CSR. The chief secretary has asked all the departments to set up the SVEEP cell by October.
In regard to issues concerning the Planning department and the Finance departments, secretary Kikheto suggested passing the salary components of all the centrally-sponsored schemes at the earliest. He recommended stopping the creation of new departments and demands in order to avoid ‘financial problems later.’
The meeting also deliberated on Service Rules and Office Memorandum in case conflict arises. Chief Secretary said Departmental Service Rules contains specific criteria and details however Office Memorandum contains the general principles therefore the Departments should compare and if any differences arise it should approach P&AR.
The chief secretary also urged the administrative- and departmental heads to take action against those government servants who have been found ‘defaulting’ on loan payments ‘since it is against the integrity and accountability of a government servant.’
The officials at the meeting also discussed the possibility of ‘cooperation department’ to operate various central schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Suggestions were made for the ‘cooperation department to first gain people’s trust.’
There was a consensus that cooperative banks could play an effective role in the rural areas because major banks often fail to operate there.
The chief Secretary released the SIRD souvenir during the meeting. The revised Rules of Executive Business was also distributed.
