STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: In a significant development, the state government has adopted a policy to fix the number of private secretaries and personal staff to be attached in the establishments of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and senior bureaucrats starting from the Chief Secretary down to Joint Secretary.
It is pertinent to note that while guidelines existed previously with regard to ministers, there was no clear-cut policy regarding attachment of staff with senior bureaucrats of the state. As a result, there was no uniformity in the number of staff attached in the establishments of various ministers and senior bureaucrats.
In accordance with approval accorded by the Chief Minister, the General Administration (Secretariat Establishment) Department has now fixed the number of staff to be attached in various official establishments in order to improve manpower management.
According to the new policy, Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State will be entitled to nine staff each – one special officer/stenographer Grade –I; one stenographer Grade-II; one stenographer Grade-III; one senior/junior administrative assistant; one computer operator; and four Grade-IV staff.
The Chief Secretary of Assam will be entitled to eight staff – one stenographer Grade –I; one stenographer Grade-II; one senior/junior administrative assistant; one computer operator; and four Grade-IV staff.
The Additional Chief Secretaries will be also entitled to eight staff - one stenographer Grade –I; one stenographer Grade-III; one senior/junior administrative assistant; one computer operator; and four Grade-IV staff.
The Principal Secretaries will be entitled to seven staff - one stenographer Grade –I; one stenographer Grade-III; one computer operator; and four Grade-IV staff.
The Commissioners & Special Secretaries and Secretaries will be entitled to four staff - one stenographer Grade-III; one computer operator; and two Grade-IV staff.
The Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries will be entitled to one Grade-IV staff each.
Official sources said that the new policy is aimed at stopping utilization of excess official staff by influential ministers and bureaucrats.
Also Watch: