*Focus only on promoting adhocism
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 6: Acute shortage of manpower coupled with adhocism is creating impediments in the effective and timely implementation of various schemes of agriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir but there is absolutely no focus on filling up of the vacant posts. Moreover, the Cabinet decision on review of organizational hierarchy of the Agriculture Department is gathering dust during the past seven years.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that no attention has so far been paid towards human resource management in the Agriculture Production Department as a result of which implementation of schemes is suffering immensely in both the provinces of the State.
Stating that huge number of posts have been lying vacant in the department in Kashmir as well as Jammu divisions, sources said, “shortage of manpower coupled with culture of additional or multiple charges that too on pick and choose basis is leading to non-implementation of schemes”, adding “by promoting adhocism those at the helm of affairs are only paying attention towards day to day works of the department and treating implementation of schemes as second fiddle”.
The intensity of the shortage of manpower can be gauged from the official figures which reveal that against sanctioned strength of 524 persons in Jammu division, the Agriculture Department has only 262 persons in place and rest of the posts are lying vacant since long. The situation is grim at middle rung of the department despite the fact that mainly officers and officials at this level are directly associated with implementation of the schemes.
Against three sanctioned posts of Joint Director Agriculture, one post is lying vacant in Jammu division while as against 93 posts of District Agriculture Officers and equivalent rank, 73 are lying vacant. Similarly, against 91 sanctioned posts of Sub Divisional Agriculture Officers and equivalent rank, 74 posts are lying vacant. Likewise, against 313 posts of Agriculture Extension Officers 113 posts are lying vacant.
“How Government can ensure strict and timely implementation of schemes with almost 50% of the sanctioned manpower”, sources asked, adding “this worrisome situation is prevailing due to failure of the competent authorities to conduct Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting, settlement of seniority and promotion of interim arrangements”.
“The intensity of non-serious approach towards human resource management can be gauged from the fact that there is no settled seniority/DPC of 1050 gazetted cadre officers since framing of Gazetted Service Rules of 1988 and the officers are retiring on the entry level post without even single life time promotion”, sources said, adding “there are numerous instances where juniors are managing vital posts at the expense of seniority and experience”.
They further informed that at present department doesn’t have designated nodal officers at district level to head Centrally Sponsored Schemes. “The poor implementation of schemes for want of sufficient manpower is also creating obstacles in arresting the downward trend in agriculture productivity”, sources said.
Stressing the need for re-structuring/re-organization of department on the basis of present needs and scope taking Panchayat and block as a unit of administration, they informed that last reorganization of the department was conducted 30 years back when T&V system under National Agriculture Extension Project was launched.
The State Cabinet vide Decision No.262/25/2010 dated December 10, 2010 had directed the Agriculture Production Department to undertake review of organization as a whole including revisiting of organizational hierarchy and productive redeployment of cadre in consultation with ARI and Trainings Department involving changes in relevant recruitment rules within a period of three months. Similarly, the Chief Minister had on June 10, 2016 stressed for rational deployment of manpower. “But no headway has been made in this regard till date”, sources regretted.
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