Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: A day after the State government decided to integrate the different Directorates with their respective Administrative departments; the Odisha Secretariat Service Association today protested the move citing that it would create problems.

Hundreds of members of the association staged a dharna on the premises of the secretariat today to protest against the decision of the government. The association has informed that a concrete decision will be taken in the executive meeting before the mass protest on August 26.

While the government is of the view that the integration will streamline the functioning of the government’s executive and speed up the process of decision making, the association has expressed concerns that it would shrink the role of the directorates.

It may be noted that under the new integrated environment, there will be single file system through OSWAS and every proposal referred by the Directorate shall not be required to be re-Initiated or re-examined de novo in the Department.

The sections such as Office Establishment, Issue and Accounts, Cash etc. common to both the offices shall be appropriately reorganized and Officers such as DDO and Establishment Officer and staff may be utilized accordingly in the composite Departments.

The association is also concerned over the abolition of vacant posts at lower levels as per the guidelines of the Finance Department. As per sources, surplus staff, if any, shall be surrendered to the pool being managed by the Administrative Reforms Cell of G.A. & P.G. Department for redeployment.

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