No need to teach us on how to provide salaries after regularisation: Golay tells Opposition

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Chief Minister PS Golay told the opposition on Friday that he needs no teaching on financial resourcefulness for providing salaries to the thousands of temporary government employees who are being regularized by the SKM government.

“Today, those parties who are against the regularization of temporary government employees are resentfully asking from where we (SKM government) will give salaries (to the regularized employees) and where is the budget for regularization. I tell them, nobody has to teach us. I know from where to get the budget. Those who have gone (from government) do not need to teach us,” said Golay.

The Chief Minister was addressing the ‘Temporary Employees Bharosa Sammelan’ organised by the Department of Personnel (DoP) at Rangpo ground with thousands of casual government employees in attendance. He released the official notification which regularizes casual government employees of all categories who have completed four years of service as of December 31, 2023.

Golay asked the thousands of casual workers to have faith in him and SKM government to deliver timely salaries upon regularisation as it has been done so far during their temporary employment.

“You do not worry. This is ‘Golay Ko Guarantee’. Keep your faith in Golay and SKM Sarkar.  Despite Covid and other major challenges, we ran the government successfully. It is our responsibility to allocate budget and provide salaries to the newly regularized employees because in 2024 we are forming the government. We have discussed all the required aspects with the Finance secretary and State cabinet before taking this regularisation decision,” said the Chief Minister.

The regularisation notification covers all categories of temporary employees including those working in Muster-Roll, adhoc, contractual, government projects, ASHA & ICDS, Home Guards and OFOJ.

Golay asserted that the temporary employees must not doubt the courage and intention of the SKM government for their welfare and advancement. If we had to hide or lie, we would have never invited all the temporary employees and department heads here at Rangpo where we made the regularization notification public, he said.

There are about 19,000 casual government workers including the OFOJ employees.

The SKM government in 2022 had notified that casual employees and adhoc teachers would be regularized after eight years in active service.  The same notification was amended earlier this month by the State cabinet to reduce the regularization eligibility period to four years till December 31, 2023.

‘Fast-track regularisation process’

In his nearly two-hour long speech, the Chief Minister directed the heads of departments to expedite the regularisation process of those employees completing four years in service. Compile a list of all the employees in a seniority-wise manner, prepare the memorandum, fast-track the process and hand over the regularisation order, he said.

Golay informed that the causal employees are being regularized at the same posts they are presently serving with no decrease in their pay scale. He promised the “best scale” for the regularised employees during the 6^th Pay Commission due in 2026.

‘Best scale from 6^th Pay Commission’

“The 5^th Pay Commission of 2016 did injustice to the Group C & D employees. It is my promise to those being regularised in this historic occasion, we will give you the best scale from the 6^th Pay Commission in 2026,” said the Chief Minister.

At the same time, Golay reminded that the salary enhancement and retirement benefits from the 6^th Pay Commission depends on who is running the government in 2026. He urged the gathering of employees to put all their energy in supporting the present government. You won’t suffer a loss, you know me and our work for you in these 4.5 years, this government is an employee-friendly government, he said.

Golay also reiterated how the SKM government strongly and successfully defended the OFOJ appointees when a petition was filed in the High Court of Sikkim against their recruitment.

“Keep your faith in us and give all energy to ensure victory for the present government. Make us victorious in every booth of all the 32 Assembly seats. You have got this huge opportunity to decide on what kind of benefit you want from the 6^th Pay Commission, that opportunity to change your fortune is coming soon,” appealed the Chief Minister.

In his address, the Chief Minister announced that vocational teachers and Organic Mission workers working for private agencies under State government funding would be first brought under the concerned departments. We cannot regularize such workers immediately, firstly we will bring them under the concerned departments and regularize them in future, he said.

He also announced an increase in honorarium for MGNREGA barefoot engineers from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 10,000.

The other major announcements were that land donor employees with three years of service are eligible for regularization, and temporary employees with disabilities who have served for more than 2 years will have their services regularized.

DoP secretary Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, in his welcome address, outlined the outstanding programmes implemented by the present government to enhance the welfare of government employees. He also underlined the government's introduction of sabbatical leave, which allows temporary workers to take three years off. Currently, around 50 temporary employees have taken leave.

During the programme, representatives from various departments shared their experiences and extended their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the regularisation of their services. 

Furthermore, various associations felicitated the Chief Minister for his overarching support in ensuring their progress and welfare.