PANAJI:
In a bid to rationalise and bring some order among staff in panchayats, the State government has amended the rules related to their pay, staffing pattern, and mode of recruitment. It has also created a 'common list', one for clerks and another for peons, of all panchayats across Goa.
The order entitles clerks and peons employed in panchayats for medical re-imbursements on par with all other government servants and also empowers the director of panchayats to transfer them from one village to another.The amendment also entitles female employees to up to 730 days of "child care leave" for two children up to they attaining the age of eighteen through their entire service.
A 'Common List of Village Panchayats Clerks' and a 'Common List of Village Panchayats Peons' shall be drawn up, said the order issued by Director of Panchayats Rajan Satardekar
Staff from the common cadres may be transferred by the Director of Panchayats who has to however ensure that the sanctioned strength of each panchayat is maintained. The Director, may also by a specific order, also delegate these powers to transfer staff staff to the respective Block Development Officers.
"The transfer order issued shall be binding on all village panchayats and implemented immediately," the order said.
It also specifies Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) with typing speed of minimum 30 words per minute as minimum qualification for recruitment as clerks.
