Thiruvananthapuram: A day after Cabinet approved special rules of Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) paving the way for a new state administrative cadre from January 1, 2018, there was mixed reaction from the staff organisations in the state. Pro-UDF Kerala Secretariat Association will observe one day strike on Thursday to protest against government decision on KAS. The association members will hold a demonstration at 11 am. The association leaders claimed that their strike will adversely affect the functioning of secretariat from Thursday.
To begin with, the association has decided to launch work to rule agitation and non cooperation movement. Apart from agitation, the association members will launch a campaign to explain the after effects of KAS on their promotion prospects. Federation of State Employees and Teachers Organisations (FSETO) a confederation of various staff unions held a victory rally in front of secretariat to hail the decision taken by LDF government to launch KAS from January 1, 2018.
The leaders who spoke at the meeting said the decision to launch an exclusive state service cadre will go a long way in improving the service delivery mechanism besides providing an opportunity to the youth and those in service, to opt for gazetted posts under KAS. They said the LDF Government had fulfilled the promise made to the people on injecting fresh blood into the middle level bureaucracy.
While the pro CPM Kerala Secretariat Employees Association has welcomed the decision, it hoped the government would allay the fears and apprehensions about promotion prospects. Most states have Class-I State Civil Services who are later promoted into IAS, the attempts made in the past in Kerala for an exclusive cadre could not succeed because of the opposition from staff unions. Ten percent each of second gazetted posts in 29 departments and common category posts will be set apart for KAS posting.
The recruitment will be through three streams:
i) direct recruitment from graduates, maximum age limit 32 years, exemption in age limit for backward classes and SC/ST, educational qualification degree from a recognised university.
ii) direct recruitment from permanent staff in government departments who do not fall in the category of first gazetted posts or above and should have competed two years in service, qualification is degree, maximum age limit 40 years.
iii) posting by transfer from 29 government departments and equivalent common category posts, maximum age limit 50 years, graduation.
