Port Blair, Jan 21: Andaman and Nicobar Administration has decided to sent a proposal to the Central Government to bring the required legislation for regarding Regulation to prescribe resident criteria to public employment, in Parliament, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India and other Parliament made Laws.
Talking to media this afternoon the Chief Secretary of A & N Administration, Mr. Anand Prakash today said that in the past, the Administration proposed a Regulation to prescribe resident criteria to public employment. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs did not approve it.
“Considering the socio-economic condition of the Islanders and the remoteness of the islands, the matter will again be taken up with the Central Government with adequate justification,” Prakash added.
In the recent past, the Unemployed Youths of the Islands have been representing to the Administration to provide adequate job opportunities as well as preference to the Islanders in Government jobs by prescribing the criteria of resident for public employment.
The Chief Secretary said that the Administration is fully conscious of the issues and will take all possible steps to address the grievances and to assuage the sentiments of the general public, especially, the Unemployed Youths.
The Chief Secretary held a consultative meeting on 20th January, 2014, with the representatives from various walks of life including that of political parties, Non-governmental organizations etc.
The Chief Secretary briefed the Lt. Governor on the outcome of the consultative meeting following which the Lt. Governor has issued several directives.
“As per the directives, in order to mitigate the problem, the Departments of the Administration will hence forth stop the procedure of notifying the vacancies on line and such notifications will be issued through the local print media, in respect of’ non-UPSC posts. Personnel Branch has been directed to issue Administrative orders in this regard,” he said.
The Chief Secretary said that age relaxation is being demanded by the Unemployed Youth on the ground that the maximum age limit prescribed in the relevant Recruitment Rules was lowered by many departments recently.
“The Administration has already accorded age relaxation in respect of certain posts in Health and Education Departments. On a similar line, the requests, received if any, in respect of posts in other Departments will also be considered,” he added saying that the Administration will issue directions to all Departments to fill up all the existing vacancies expeditiously by following a fair and transparent method of selection, while recruiting candidates.
He added that experience from the past reveals that more than 90 percent of the Group-B (Non-Gazetted) and Group-C posts had been filled by the Departments by the local candidates only. There are number of vacant posts available in major Departments like Education which could not be filled due to non- availability of qualifying candidates.
“The Administration requests the Islanders to qualify themselves to become eligible for the posts. Free CTET qualifying examinations are being conducted by the administration. All youth are requested to take advantage of this facility. In the interest of young children studying in schools, the qualification prescribed for the teachers cannot be compromised,” he said.
He added that all forums, NGOs and political parties are welcomed to give appropriate suggestions to protect the interests of the Islanders in the matter of public employment.
“We would once again urge nobody is entitled to disturb the public order and the Law & Order situation. The Police Authorities as well as the District Administration have been advised to take firm action against those who violates the laws of the land. Further, the Government servants are also amenable to the relevant Rules governing their conduct,” the CS said.
The Chief Secretary requested that the Unemployed Youths of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to repose faith on the Administration and the Administration will take urgent steps on the above lines to ameliorate the grievances.
