AP: MEO-1 Association Seeks Self-drawing Powers
Simhachalam said it was inappropriate that gazetted MEO-1s, who head the Mandal Education Department, had been denied the facility while headmasters of high schools with comparatively fewer staff had been granted self-drawing powers. He described the issue as one affecting the self-respect of MEO-1 officers
Vijayawada: The AP MEO-1 Association has urged education minister Nara Lokesh to grant self-drawing powers to Mandal Education Officers-I (MEO-1s), saying the long-pending demand is crucial for administrative efficiency and the dignity of the cadre.
Association state president Samala Simhachalam said a representation had been submitted to the minister seeking immediate action. He said MEO-1s function as Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) for nearly 200 teachers in primary and upper primary schools in each mandal but are not vested with self-drawing powers.
Simhachalam said it was inappropriate that gazetted MEO-1s, who head the Mandal Education Department, had been denied the facility while headmasters of high schools with comparatively fewer staff had been granted self-drawing powers. He described the issue as one affecting the self-respect of MEO-1 officers.
He said the matter had been brought to the notice of the Education Minister on several occasions. Although the minister had responded positively, the government was yet to issue formal orders, he added.
Simhachalam also alleged that in some districts, District Educational Officers (DEOs) were assigning duties to MEO-1s that were outside the prescribed job chart, creating administrative difficulties.
He, along with association state general secretary Buxa Ravi Nayak, appealed to the minister to resolve the long-pending issues of MEO-1s at the earliest.