TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa cabinet, has resolved to have a separate All India Service (AIS) cadre for Goa and delinking the civil service from the existing joint AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram union territories) cadre, apparently due to the BJP state government’s tussle with the Centre. Goa will have to pay Rs 2 to 3 crore more for the proposed induction of 40 to 50 AIS officers.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced the cabinet’s unanimous decision at a press conference held at the secretariat on Wednesday revealing it was necessary owing to the Centre’s ‘feudal lords’ behaviour towards Goa at the time of transferring IAS (Indian administrative service) and IPS (Indian police service) officers.
“The Centre is behaving like feudal lords burying their heads in the sand, as if they are the kings. They take arbitrary decisions while posting IAS and IPS officers without taking the state into confidence,” he said as he launched a scathing attack against the Centre.
The chief minister further alleged that despite several requests from him, the union government has failed to convene meetings of joint cadre management authority knowing it is important to discuss state matters. “The home affairs ministry can’t manage home,” he commented.
Now with this cabinet resolution, the government will submit a proposal to the Centre in this regard including determining the strength and composition of the cadre in consultation with the Goa government.
Parrikar said the formation will take at least an year and he is confident the proposal will be accepted with the change in government at the Centre. “I know how to enforce it… I know Modi will be the PM. I will use my contact,” he mentioned.
Once approved, Goa will have 40-50 AIS officers, with some promotees, considering the increasing work load like the Right to Information Act and recent implementation of Goa Right of Citizens to Time Bound Delivery of Public Services Act, 2013. The chief minister said officers from other states will also be given a choice to join the cadre in Goa.
“In Goa, strictly speaking a pool of 40-50 AIS officers was not required but each department is becoming a big job. At present one officer is holding at least seven portfolios. A pool of 40-50 AIS officers can shared two or one portfolio which will lighten the burden,” he explained.
He added that certain AGMUT cadre officers working under the pressure of the Centre was another reason for the formation of AIS for Goa. “I was personally not in favour because money in terms of their salaries will be increased by Rs 2 to 3 crore. But the Centre has been arbitrarily transferring the officers including those in the ranks of chief secretary. The home affairs ministry in the last six to seven years has indulged in manipulations and acted mischievously. They have become mean minded. There are also some IAS and IPS officers who are pressured to do work at the whims and fancies of the Centre.” he said.
