Telangana Govt set for major overhaul

​Hyderabad: The Telangana government has begun a giant exercise of overhauling all its departments to enforce effective governance from state to village level. As a first step, the government is preparing for rationalisation of its employees in various departments. 

The first meeting with some departments is organised on August 13 in the Secretariat to be attended by secretaries concerned and HODs.  The merger of the departments and shifting of excess staff to other wings will be done in the revamp of the departments.

Officials said the three-member PRC (Pay Revision Commission) headed by retired IAS official CR Biswal has been asked to review the existing human resources in all departments in tune with the present requirements, including contract/outsourcing personnel and the necessity to continue the gazetted status to various posts and suggest any alternative methods. Before the commission begins its exercise, the government will ascertain the cadre strength and finalise the workforce in each department.     

Officials said the merger of departments like bringing the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development departments under a single roof, creation of Energy wing in the Irrigation department to oversee the functioning of various lift irrigation projects coming up in huge numbers in the state and the formation of an exclusive drinking water section to monitor the supply of water in all villages and urban local bodies under Mission Bhagiratha. 

The demand for the merger of all separate wings in the Police department like TSSP (Special Police), Reserve Police and civil wings is also under consideration, officials said and pointed out that a detailed report on the requirement of cadre strength in each department will be prepared and forward to the PRC before the commission recommends salary hike of the government employees. Based on the data, the PRC will analyse the financial burden on the state exchequer once new pay revision comes into force. The government in consultation with the PRC will take necessary measures.

Officials said that the rationalization of the staff will also help strengthen the administration from top to bottom ensuring the reach of all benefits to the needy without the misuse or diversion of the funds earmarked for the welfare and development programmes.