A high-level panel constituted to review the administrative efficiency of the Haryana government has released a startling report, concluding that successive governments in the state have engaged a significant number of staff on redundant posts. The panel’s findings suggest that while technology and automation have rendered many manual roles obsolete, the recruitment and retention of personnel in these positions have continued, leading to an unnecessary burden on the state exchequer.
The Panel’s Findings The report, submitted to the Chief Secretary, highlights several departments where the staff strength is disproportionate to the current workload due to digitalization.
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Redundancy Examples: The panel identified roles such as certain types of manual record-keepers, specialized clerical staff for tasks now handled by centralized software, and helper positions in departments where machinery has taken over.
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Fiscal Impact: According to the report, the state spends several hundred crores annually on salaries and pensions for these redundant positions. This “stagnant workforce” has also hindered the recruitment of youth for modern, skill-intensive roles.
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Successive Failures: The panel noted that over the past two decades, various administrations failed to conduct a “job-mapping” exercise, choosing instead to continue legacy posts for political or administrative convenience.
Key Recommendations The panel has urged the state government to initiate a comprehensive “Rationalization and Restructuring” program.
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Skill Mapping: Existing employees on redundant posts should be identified and provided with bridge-course training to shift them into departments with vacancies (like health and education).
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Post Abolition: Once the current occupants of these redundant posts retire, the positions should be permanently abolished rather than refilled.
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Outsourcing & Automation: For low-skill maintenance roles, the panel suggests shifting toward performance-based outsourcing rather than permanent recruitment.
Government Stance A senior official from the Haryana Administrative Reforms Department stated that the government is “seriously considering” the panel’s recommendations. However, any move to restructure is expected to face resistance from employee unions, who have historically opposed the abolition of permanent cadres. The government has assured that no current employee will lose their job, but “re-skilling and re-deployment” will be mandatory to ensure taxpayers’ money is utilized effectively.
