‘Transfer trade’ alleged in Local Self-Government Department; project implementation hit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Allegations have surfaced of a ‘trade’ in employee transfers in the Local Self-Government Department, with agents and influential members of service organisations allegedly brokering deals to secure preferred posts and locations. The alleged transactions are being carried out on the assurance that employees can be posted to their preferred positions and places, bypassing the norms governing the general transfer process that used to be conducted online during the school vacation period.

Employees who had been working in block panchayats are being transferred to grama panchayats, while those serving in grama panchayats are being moved to district panchayats. The transfers have disrupted several key functions, including building permit processing, permissions for sand transportation, implementation of panchayat development projects and the awarding of contracts.

The Local Self-Government Department has around 22,000 employees, of whom nearly 6,000 have been transferred within the past two months. As per the rules, employees are generally transferred once every three years. In hilly districts such as Idukki and Wayanad, they can be transferred after two years. Work experience and seniority are taken into account for general transfers, while employees with health issues, persons with disabilities and those in mixed marriages, among others, are to receive special consideration.

The general transfer process could not be conducted in the State this year due to the election Model Code of Conduct. The shift from the usual school vacation period to the period after the Onam examinations is expected to create difficulties for employees and their families. Employees may then seek to have their transfers cancelled. This situation is allegedly being exploited by agents.

Agents are reportedly approaching employees with offers that they would not have to immediately join the new posting even after receiving a transfer order. Once a deal is finalised, those transferred may be allowed to return to their previous posting. Alternatively, they may be accommodated at another convenient location, for which a separate order would be issued.