August 30, 2014
WB CM announces incentives for WBCS officers
Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee announcedseveral incentives and schemes for WBCS officers on Friday.
Addressing the annual general meeting (AGM)of WBCS (Executive) Officers' Association on the day, the Chief Minister rolledout goodies in ample measure and sent spirits soaring among the government officials.
The benefits include proposal of a housingcomplex in New Town, Rajarhat, setting up model schools for their children indistricts, provision of laptops for BDOs and career advancement opportunitiesamong others.
Incentives for outstanding work
The Chief Minister assured every effort toensure an upward mobility in their career graph, with the promise of promotionsand overseas training. Singapore, which recently played host to the ChiefMinister and was her first overseas stop in her quest to draw investment to Bengal,tops the list of proposed training venues for now.
The Chief Minister said that specialsecretaries with exemplary performance record would be considered for promotionas departmental secretaries with independent charge. The post, till date, hasbeen exclusive to IAS officers.
More WBCS officers in high posts
The state administration currentlycomprises 165 joint secretaries, up from 145 during the Left Front days. The ChiefMinister proposed to create 50 more joint secretarial posts, which isconsidered equivalent to the status of a district magistrate.
“Currently, we've just one officer postedas district magistrate, a post generally occupied by an IAS officer. The ChiefMinister has now proposed to promote two more officers of WBCS cadre asdistrict magistrates,” Sourav Chaki, general secretary of WBCS (Executive)Officers' Association said.
Promotions at regular intervals
He added that officers, who have been inservice for eight years, would now be considered for promotion to the post ofdeputy secretary and not assistant secretary, as is the norm currently.
As per the current practice, officers witheight years of service experience, are considered for promotion to assistantsecretary and those with 16 years of service under their belts are elevated tothe rank of deputy secretary.
The Chief Minister proposed setting up ofmodel schools on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalaya for the children of officersfrom the state civil service cadre.
