Happy Work Anniversary : Four years service as ASO in Secretariat

This day is memorable for the 811 ASOs who got their appointment letter in a workshop at Rabindra Mandap to join as Assistant Section Officer in Odisha State Secretariat as well as Governor's Secretariat. We all felt very elated on that day, as the advertisement for the post was on 2012. The stress and strain for the exams have borne fruit after four years (2012-2016) 

Now it's completion of four years in service (2016-2020). So first of all, Congratulations to all ASO friends of RR-2011 batch on their 4th Work Anniversary. Within these four years, lots of happenings are there. Many of us has left this service to join other jobs with high salary and better rank like OAS, OPS, OFS, ORS etc. Out of 811, nearly 660 ASOS of RR-2011 are now working in different departments. 

Work Environment: 

Working in Secretariat means to be ready for encountering many challenges as the State Secretariat is the nerve centre of all the departments and the main administrative office of all offices from across the State. Being the base level post, every file work and analysis starts from an ASO. As a part of rule framing body, they have to be more special than that of other sub-ordinate offices. This post is most vital as the files they put up may also be moved to Honble Ministers as well as CMO for approval. The post of ASO was under Group-C but later it comes under Group-B.

Earlier, the movement of file was through SO/DO - US - DS - JS - AS - Secretary within Departments. But to reduce time of file movement, Chief Secretary in 2019 has issued DO letters to all Departments with permission for submission of files by ASOs directly to Deputy Secretary level. 

On joining, this batch had to work with their immediate seniors who were recruited in 1997 or before. So it was easy for this batch to learn the system from their seniors. Also having experience of Government atmosphere from their past services, most of the new ASOs could easily handle the office work. Now the time of retirement of Desk Officer onwards has started and it's expected that most of the seniors are retiring on superannuation by 2024. Similarly near about 450 posts of Section Officer out of sanction strength 700 are lying vacant. So most of the responsibility is upon this batch. In the same time, 140 ASOs (RR-2015 Spl Drive) had already joined 8 months before this appointment. Out of them, nearly 100 are now in service. To add more help, another 500 ASOs have been posted in July, 2019. 

Beyond Secretariat:

The Odisha Secretariat Service (OSS) cadre is now not limited to Old Secretariat Building presently called Lokseva Bhawan. Nearly 10 (ten) departments are functioning in Kharvel Bhawan. Besides these, some departments are functioning in specific buildings meant for them. These includes Krishi Bhawan (Agriculture & FE Deptt), Suchana O Loka Sampark Bhawan (I&PR Deptt), Paryatan Bhawan (Tourism Deptt), Sanskruti Bhawan ( OLLC Deptt),  Rajiv Bhawan (WR Deptt). 

Besides the above, some OSS officers are posted in different offices functioning beyond the aforesaid buildings. These include, Home (Election), Home (State Guest House), GA(Lokayukta). 

Some offices are located out of Bhubaneswar also, in which willing Officers are being posted. These include Home (Bhawans) at Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai & Kolkata, GA (Vigilance) at Cuttack,  etc. 

Beyond assigned work:

Although Assistant Section Officers were posted to work at different Departments of State Government in Secretariat level, still then they have carried out many extra curricular works in terms of public service in state level and international level also. Most significantly, ASOs have worked in State Covid Control Room (24x7) operating for the lakhs of Migrant Workers those need help to return Odisha during April - June. Principal Secretary to Govt., Home Department has issued appreciation letters to them. To add this noble cause, two batches (50 each) of ASOs has been deployed to work with BMC in Covid related works during August-October. 

In previous days, these ASOs have contributed their talents and spacious time during two international events organised in Bhubaneswar. 150 ASO Volunteers in 22nd Asian Athletic Championship, 2017 and 50 ASOs as Liaison Officer in Hockey Men's World Cup, 2018 were deployed to make these events successful. Many ASOs have also worked as Polling Personnel during General Election, 2019 as a National Duty.

Future of these ASOs:

As a part of Government Service, each and every employee dreams to have promotion and pay hike. Although, this post is being recruited through OPSC, but this is the only post with Grade Pay of 4200 under PB-2. So the first demand is 4600 Grade Pay. Similarly, minimum continuous service for promotion to Section Officer is fixed to 8 years which is higher than that of any other cadres. So minimum 5 years is also another demand. 

In current situation, nearly 450 SO posts are lying vacant but no ASOs qualify the minimum service period. Hence, all hopes for one time relaxation for these ASOs to get promotion to the rank of SO.

Hope, everything will be fine. These ASOs can bring a better environment  and enhance the efficiency level in Odisha State Secretariat. 

Again congratulations to all......