Condition 3
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 utilised accordingly in the Composite Departments to ensure better efficiency avoiding duplication of work and wastage of time.
Analysis:
If we expect formation of composite departments in same building then only a single DDO or EO and issue, accounts etc can be possible. For information, already some composite departments are functioning in our Govt. like ST&SC dev.., Culture, Tourism, I & PR and W&CD.
But if we analyse work culture of these Departments, we can have a better knowledge on the bitter future of OSS cadre.
In I&PR and Tourism department, a single DDO- Establishment- Issue -diary system functioning. So OSS officers are submitting files to directors. HoD staff are sitting next to OSS officers. Here one can see, the HoD staff may get high salary due to long service period or promotion but in official hierarchy they are below OSS cadre. So our apprehension is humiliation of our common interest while submitting file to them. The reverse is also not so sound.
In culture department, two of OSS cadre are working in the directorate. But there is duplication of work because of separate workplace. So Govt. has intention to change the whole system as two tier unlike other states.
Demand of OSS Cadre:
When any employee is being upgraded both in designation and workplace, they never protest it. But we cannot tolerate personal humiliation before them. Government can think of betterment of people as well as directorate staff but that should not affect this apex cadre of the state. A guideline should be prepared accordingly. Suitable amendments should be there in each cadre rule. Degradation in any area of our service will not be accepted. OSS cadre will no way accept CCR and any permission from subordinate cadre officers.
Condition 4
Surplus staff, if any, shall be surrendered to the pool being managed by the Administrative reform cell of GA&PG Department for redeployment and vacant posts at the lowest level shall be abolished as per the guidelines of Finance department.
Analysis
We may expect Govt. in GA&PG Department to control both cadres (HoD & OSS) and deployment of them in each composite department. So there must be some ambiguity. Any surplus staff of HoD will be deployed in Departments and vice versa. But after integration there will be no concept of directorate and administrative department. So we have to assume all to be staff of the same pool but from different cadres. In each Govt. sector, employees from different cadre work. But a hierarchy have been maintained which can't be expected in this integration process.
Demand of OSS Cadre
OSS cadre is opposing whole process but will not hesitate to protest any humiliation and degradation of our dignity. The responsibility and job profile of both cadre may change but should not be altered. By appointing us under a certain service rule (for that unique integrity, many high qualified people are here), we shouldn't be directed to work in another atmosphere. It will be a big cheating for we 1400 new ASOs particularly.
Condition 5
Condition 5
The concerned staff will continue to remain in their respective cadres and will avail service benefits in their own cadre hierarchy. On account of promotion, death, resignation or otherwise, the base level posts in the Heads of Department will stand abolished and in lieu of that, as per requirement, the same shall be filled up from Secretariat Common Cadre meant for HoD keeping in view the administrative necessity in due consultation /concurrence with Finance department. Recruitment in the level of Junior Assistant in HoD Cadre will not be held until further order.
Analysis:
It's a very confusing condition. Recruitment of base level post i.e. Junior Assistant is stopped until further orders. So it's a possibility that after some reformation, if Govt. feels necessary, then recruitment may be processed. On the other hand, it is very much clearly mentioned about abolition of base level posts through promotion, resignation or death. So the required staff in Directorate level work will be filled up by Secretariat Common Cadre meant for HoD. If we highlight the word “meant for HoD”, we can say Govt. have a plan to create another new cadre with distinguished education eligibility, special work assignment and others. It is expected so because of term abolition. But no clear information on OSS Cadre. In future it may also merge with that Common Cadre. Because, in the meantime govt plan to bring all under the same roof. Yes, it will take time for all of these. But office work will not be stopped. Hence any type of interim order may be there with a remark, “until further orders” as like some ASOs deployed in O/o the Lokayukta. After that declaration came that, O/o the Lokayukta is one of the HoD. But still they are working in so called other office. So many such alterations may seen future. Although Govt. has not declared that both cadres will avail service benefit in each cadre as usual, but we have to remember that restructuring has been in both cadre recently in the beginning of this year. Where 237 ASO posts has been abolished. In other hand the nomenclature of Sr Assistant has been changed to ASO as like happened in OSS Cadre. Next is to bring both under same roof. So we can say that its a clear plan to equalise both ASOs.
Demand of OSS Cadre:
Now it's being felt that Govt. has a long plan on this merger. Many more new reformation may come out. Though we have not protested this nomenclature of ASO in HoD in past (when our association was in power), now Govt having courage to take another step. Although our association is in transit period for a new elected body, still then we all are showing our displeasure. It's true that in other cadres, one can get a promotion to the base level post of next higher cadre. i.e. Peon to ASO, Senior clerk to ORS, OAS to IAS etc. But in each case they have to leave their parent cadre and join in the new cadre. But in current scenario, the system may not go like that. If cadres will merge in the future, one can't expect a good outcome which is the dream of this Govt. At each and every moment, we are asking ourselves as a Government Servant in the apex office of the State. While appointment of these three batches of ASOs, i.e. 2011-12, 2015-16 and 2018-19, each candidate has been given a handbook or information booklet (available in the BOOK menu of this blog). While going through, we OSS cadre and our family feel proud that we are a part of Govt. Policy Making Body, we are drafting Governor's Speech, preparing State Budget Documents, supplying answers to respective ministries to reply in Assembly and many more. But what we see the future of the resolution, the whole state Govt. Employee from Tahasil to Secretariat will be equivalent. We don't oppose in giving salary to others as equivalent to us, because work culture of different cadres is different. One Revenue Inspector having GP 4200, that does not mean that RI (who is assigned to implement Govt. Program) recruited through District Level examination among 3000-4000 candidates will work in Secretariat with ASOs. Obviously it will humiliate our interest. By born we can be poor but can't prefer to be adopted by a poor family.
So, Govt should make clear his intention and be careful for our job security with integrity in post as well as job profile.
The name of Secretariat Building may be changed, the system may be changed, but OSS Cadre should be protected in all respect.
Staff position in both cadres
Condition 6
The Administrative Department shall take necessary steps to make budget provisions for the composite department. Necessary budget provisions for the integrated Department shall be made from the next financial year in consultation with Finance Department.
Analysis
Although it's a common thing to make budget provision for this new system. So it does not affect any cadre. Only Govt. will try to reduce its expenditure towards administration.
Demand of OSS Cadre.
In this condition (may be drafting problem), both terms, composite department and integrated department are used. Although it may be taken as a single system/ department, still the Administrative Department has been assigned to make budget provision. So here also we the administrative department can expect to remain exist as a separate body in this integrated system which will not harmful to us.
Conclusion:
Although it's not a clear resolution on every intention and movement of Government in the near future , we suspect amalgamation in a whole. We demand our integrity, respected job profile and dignity in society. Otherwise media/people will laugh at those IITians, IT professionals, Bankers who left their job to join as an Officer in the Secretariat but not as a clerk in the so called Composite or integrated department. In future no one should ask us, whether we are working in directorate office or administrative office of the integrated system. Rather I want to say and work like the Assistant Section Officer in Odisha Secretariat.