Report to your posts in Marathwada: Govt to 16 officers

NAGPUR: Within hours of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing in the state Assembly that state government officers reluctant to join duties at their place of posting in Vidarbha and Marathwada would face strict action, the revenue and forests department issued notices to 16 deputy collector-rank officials to report to their designated postings in Aurangabad division of Marathwada.
A government order dated December 19 by the revenue and forest departments has cited administrative reasons for repatriation of the 16 officers from their deputation posting to original departments at various locations in Marathwada. The order stresses that looking at the drought situation and the developmental backlog, it has been decided to fill up all vacant revenue department posts in order to tone up efficiency and administration.
As part of this exercise all vacant posts will be filled up. The order gives the 16 officers a week to return their original postings. It also mentions that those failing to meet the December 26 deadline will be liable for strict disciplinary action.
Fadnavis had mentioned in his speech while replying to a debate on developmental backlog that officials refusing to join for work when posted in this region and trying to get alternative postings or refusing to report here would henceforth face strong action.
Among the 16, some are posted in land acquisition section which is crucial for implementation of irrigation and other public projects.
Ironically, the recruitment system through Maharashtra Public Service Commission has been found to be skewed. As pointed out by the Vidarbha Development Board expert member Madhukar Kimmatkar earlier, the MPSC has been found favouring candidates from western Maharashtra areas like Pune division when it comes to recruitments in revenue as well the police department.
There have been instances when in some years candidates from Pune region have cornered 50% of jobs on offer while those from Vidarbha had to contend with less than 10%. As per norms, Vidarbha candidates should get jobs in proportion to the region’s population vis-à-vis the state – which to comes to around 25%.
But then the successful candidates do not like to work in Vidarbha or Marathwada and then start manipulating and using political influence for posting locations of choice nearer home in western Maharashtra. The situation in districts like Naxal-affected Gadchiroli is the worst with nearly 25% vacancies in government and police jobs because of this problem.
But the December 19 order shows that Fadnavis government means business and would no longer tolerate truant and erring officers.