High-level committee fails to finalize scope of work
No framework developed for optimum utilization of staff
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 24: The much-talked about manpower audit in all the departments of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to begin even after several announcements by the Government mainly because of slackness on the part of a high-level committee, which was assigned the task of working out a detailed mechanism in this regard.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the necessity of conducting manpower audit in each department/organization of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir was felt soon after the bifurcation of erstwhile State into two Union Territories and accordingly the issue was debated in numerous meetings of Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Chief Secretary.
“Such an exercise is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of all human resource policies, procedures and activities performed by the individuals working in the departments”, sources said quoting the observations made by the present as well as former Chief Secretary at Committee of Secretaries meetings.
Accordingly, all the Administrative Departments were directed to undertake manpower audit and ensure effective utilization of human resources available with the departments. Moreover, stress was laid on the requirement of establishing a continuous monitoring system to ensure optimum utilization of manpower.
Finally, the Government vide Order No.669-JK(GAD) dated July 30, 2021 constituted a committee of officers to oversee the implementation of manpower audit to be followed across various departments in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The committee headed by Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department and comprising Principal Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Director General (Codes) Finance Department was directed to finalize the scope of work for manpower audit for various departments.
Further, the committee was asked to shortlist a Government/private agency for conducting the manpower audit in a methodical and professional manner by utilizing scientific tools. It was also assigned the task of suggesting a framework for optimum utilization of staff available with various departments/organizations.
“Short-listing of an agency for this purpose shall be done within a period of 15 days and the committee shall oversee the conduct of manpower audit across various departments to be completed within a period of six months”, the Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department had mentioned in the order.
Nearly four months have lapsed since the framing of committee but even agency has not been shortlisted what to talk of starting manpower audit, sources said, adding “in such a situation how the departments would complete the manpower audit within next two months (as per the deadline fixed by the Government) remains a million dollar question”.
Few days back, the Government, while modifying the earlier order, has made Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department as the Chairman of the committee in place of Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department. However, nothing has been mentioned about the delay in engagement of agency for carrying out manpower audit.
When contacted, some members of the committee said, on the condition of anonymity that, meetings of the committee were fixed once or twice but the same were postponed without assigning any specific reason. They, however, admitted that manpower audit in the Government departments/organizations is imperative.
“There are many functions that take place in any department such as recruitment, deployment, training, development, promotions etc and manpower audit helps to improve these functions by identifying the available prospects so that the departments can exploit it and become more successful”, sources said, adding “the manpower audit also serve as a tool for enhancing the performance of available manpower for better outcomes”.
They further said, “if such is the approach towards the decision taken in the meetings of Committee of Secretaries what would be the fate of other directives being issued in routine to the departments and officers by the Government can be easily gauged”, adding “at least while making new Chairman of the committee the Government should have fixed some timelines so that there is no further delay in conduct of vital exercise”.
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