One PRO each for parliamentary secys

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 22

The state government has given in to the demand for increase in facilities of the secretaries who hold Cabinet rank. It has now given orders for attachment of one Public Relations Officer with each parliamentary secretary. In the past, it enhanced the role of the 13 parliamentary secretaries by making them heads of various state departmental committees and members of district committees.

As of now, the parliamentary secretaries have been utilising the services of four persons for official work, including a personal secretary, two class four employees and an official of the rank of review officer or more. “Now, in all, five persons would be attached with the parliamentary secretaries whose salaries would be paid through the department of general administration. Except for the term of the review officer, the term of the remaining four persons would be co-terminus, that is, ending with the term of the parliamentary secretary,” said PS Jangpangi, secretary general administration. The Public Relations Officers would receive monthly emoluments of Rs 55,000 per month and the parliamentary secretaries would have the choice of appointing persons of their choice on this post.

Since their appointment as parliamentary secretaries by former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, there was a constant complaint by them of having no work to do. Though Chief Minister Harish Rawat had given them responsibilities of the portfolios under him, these failed to satisfy them. After that, Rawat attached them with departments, making them heads of committees. Another grouse that the parliamentary secretaries harboured pertained to absence of office staff and officials who would assist them in their work. The government seems to have acceded to this demand as well.