Severely understaffed still no action; Minister yet to see file for creating 20 more posts in BCDD

KOCHI: The file for creating 20 more posts to strengthen the state Backward Classes Development Department has been lying dormant in the department minister's office for the past four months. The file, which was opened five years ago, has reached the department minister's office for final approval only after going through all the procedures. The department will get 20 more posts if the minister, the Chief Minister and the cabinet approves it. If this does not happen before the election code of conduct is enacted, it may take another few years.

The file, which was submitted by the Administrative Reforms Department under the Chief Minister after conducting a work study and reporting on it, will be submitted to the Cabinet meeting for consideration if it is signed by Minister OR Kelu and the Chief Minister. Although the report was submitted in August and reached the office in October, the Minister has not yet seen it.

69 new posts were approved in the Higher Education Department and 202 posts in the Health Department in the last two cabinet meetings.

File roamed 305 times

The file number BCDD-A1/345/2021-BCDD, opened on October 9, 2021, has been circulated 305 times at the official and ministerial levels and reached the Minister's office on October 23.

Total 30 employees

The Backward Classes Development Department, which was started in 2011, is a severely understaffed department with not even a single clerk for every district. The department has a total of 30 employees for the development of the backward classes, which constitute 65% of the state! Lakhs of scholarships and other benefits are distributed through the regional offices in four districts, in addition to the directorate in Thiruvananthapuram.

Asked for 103

Out of the recommendation to create 103 new posts and 10 district offices, only 20 posts were approved in the work study.

Post: Existing: Recommendation

Joint Director 0, 1

Administrative Officer 0, 1

Asst. Director 0, 4

Clerk 12, 14

Current posts

Directorate - 16

Regional offices

Kollam - 3

Ernakulam - 4

Palakkad - 3

Kozhikode - 4