I wish to wholeheartedly appreciate the Government of Goa’s decision to abolish vacant posts of Junior Stenographer Grade-II and Stenographer Grade-II in various Government departments. This is a timely and long-overdue administrative reform, as the relevance of stenographers has diminished considerably, with most officers no longer dictating letters and documents. Yet, these posts continued to exist despite being rarely utilised. A major concern was the faulty Recruitment Rules, which allowed Junior Stenographers to become Head Clerks within four to five years without necessarily acquiring adequate administrative knowledge and experience. This adversely affected the promotional prospects of Lower Division Clerks (LDCs), who had served for years and gained valuable experience in clerical and establishment matters.
Having served as a Head Clerk in the Electricity Department, I have personally witnessed irregularities in filling Junior Stenographer posts. On certain occasions, appointments were allegedly made without candidates possessing the requisite stenography certificates, reportedly due to political interference. These irregularities were also highlighted in the local press, but meaningful corrective action appears to have been lacking. Consequently, several deserving LDCs retired in the same cadre without a single promotion, while opportunities were extended through a separate cadre that no longer served actual departmental needs. Government service must ensure fair promotional opportunities. Recruitment Rules should be transparent, practical and aligned with departmental requirements. I welcome this decision and hope the Government reviews outdated Recruitment Rules in other cadres to protect deserving employees’ career prospects. Better late than never!!
Evaristo Fernandes via email
