Mixed response to new Zonal System

Khammam : The new zonal system which was approved by the Centre on August 29 releasing the gazette notification eased the process of recruitment in the district. 

According to this, 95 per cent of all the jobs created within seven zones will be given to the locals, while only 5 per cent jobs will be allocated to non-locals. Even in the remaining 5 per cent quota, locals can compete with non-locals and can secure jobs based on merit in recruitment exams.

With the approval of  the zonal system, now the five districts Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural have been grouped under IV zone called Bhadradri zone with about 50,44,844 lakh of population.

From a higher level to clerical jobs, all the recruitments in the State will follow the new procedure. And a candidate will be given local status if he has maximum four years of stay in a place from Class I to VII, according to the new the zonal system.

Based on the new zonal system, the Panchayat Raj department released the notification inviting the applications for 9,500 posts. These vacant posts will be equally distributed to all the districts in the State at least 300 for each.

There are mixed responses on new zonal system by employees and student organisations in Khammam district. Talluri Narayana Swamy, a retired teacher said the introduction of zonal system has its historical roots in the struggle by the people belonging to Telangana region seeking justice from the perceived loss of jobs due to the inequalities between the regions in the united Andhra Pradesh. 

As the fears of losing jobs increased in Telangana region, the demand for confining jobs in the region to only locals (Mulkis) surfaced during the first phase of Telangana movement, he added.

The Telangana State United Teachers Federation (TSUTF) district president said the reorganisation of districts created challenges for the zonal system. The inter-change of mandals due to the reorganisation of districts will lead to overlapping of different zones. This creates several legal and administrative complications in terms of appointments, promotions etc.

The district president of the Student Federation of India T Naga Raju said the earlier zonal system had been a major disadvantage to the job aspirants as they lost their share of jobs due to their inability to compete with students who are far ahead educationally. 

Forming zones by merging districts which have similarity in development and culture is a commendable job. The move was a boon for the jobless belonging to backward districts, he added.

Gangarapu Bala Krishna, TNGOs district unit secretary said with the abolition of zonal system, there will be district cadre posts and the State cadre posts. But, categorisation of posts into district and state cadres should be carefully done to strike a balance between the efficiency of public administration, he observed.

The public servants working in remote areas and those suffering from certain ailments will be relieved because they will be given top priority in the process of transferring, he added.