A key review meeting was held in the committee room at Mantralaya, chaired by Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal and in the presence of Tribal Development Minister Dr Ashok Uike. MLA Raju Todsam, additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, secretaries and senior administrative officers of various departments attended.
Key issues and decisions taken at the meeting: District-wise review of vacant posts:
The meeting discussed in detail recruitment for the Scheduled Tribe category, the current status of vacancies, various lists, the roster (bindunamavali), service entry rules and technical difficulties in the recruitment process. The Chief Secretary directed that updated information on all vacant posts be collected at once and district-wise reports be submitted.
Coordination between departments and clearing pending matters:
Instructions were given to act quickly on available posts, the reservation position and pending issues in the recruitment process. The Chief Secretary made clear that issues at the state level should be resolved by the departments concerned through mutual coordination.
Clarity on the 'local Scheduled Tribe' criterion:
During recruitment, problems arising in some areas because of the 'local Scheduled Tribe' criterion were discussed at length. The concerned departments will fix clear and inclusive guidelines after considering government orders, constitutional and legal provisions and court judgments.
Proposal on the service status of employees:
The Chief Secretary asked for accurate information to be gathered and a proper proposal submitted to bring clarity on the service status of employees appointed before and after the implementation of the PESA Act, and of employees who joined PESA areas through administrative or district transfer.
Speeding up teacher recruitment through the Pavitra portal:
The status of teacher recruitment in PESA areas was also reviewed specially. The Chief Secretary directed that applications received on the Pavitra portal, the number of eligible candidates and the district-wise need for teachers be checked, and that teachers be provided on priority in districts facing a shortage.