Already under fire for not fulfilling its main poll guarantee of giving one lakh jobs to people in the first Cabinet meeting after formation of government in December 2022, the Congress government has now invited criticism for allegedly degrading the government services by bringing out a policy on recruitment of ‘mitras’ in different departments.
Under this new recruitment scheme, which is neither covered under labour laws, nor other government benefits, the state will have 1600 ‘Bijli Mitras’ in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd on fixed honorarium of Rs 10,000 a month, 1000 ‘Pashu Mitras’ in the Animal Husbandry department on Rs 5000 a month and 1000 ‘Rogi Mittars’ in the Health and Family Welfare department on Rs 15000 a month and around 2000 ‘Van Mitras’ in the Forest department on Rs 10,000 a month. These ‘mitras’ will reportedly work for four- six hours a day for different services.
The Congress government, which has been crying about the financial crisis since day one, has worked out this strange arrangement to generate jobs for local youth, with a justification that it would strengthen the field outreach of the departments with limited financial resources. The government’s move has disheartened the educated unemployed youth in this fully literate state as they do not see a bright future for themselves in their home state, which offers little opportunities in private sector also.
Unemployment and under-employment are on the rise in the state, which was once known for best government services in the entire country. As per official data, over 11 lakh persons are registered with the employment exchanges in the state, either being unemployed or under-employed, seeking better opportunities- which present a gloomy picture.
“This is very insecure. In a state where the bureaucracy and the political leaders are enjoying the best of salaries and facilities with hikes every now and then, the educated youth are being pushed to such jobs, which will leave them from poor to poorer. How can one make both ends meet with such a low monthly income,” said some angry unemployed youths.
A common concern is that although ‘mitras’ are officially expected to work lesser than the standard eight hours, they will likely be engaged full-time in these jobs, leaving them with no scope to pursue other work for financial security. This would land them, nowhere, just like the outsourced employees. They will not be covered under the labour laws.
The outsourcing policy was introduced more than a decade and a half to fill government vacancies at lower salaries with lesser responsibility for the government. This has led to over 35,000 outsourced employees working full-time in government departments, just like regular government employees.
Despite handling responsibilities similar to regular employees, including file work and accountability, they receive significantly lower salaries. They have no defined salary hike system in place, and lack job security or benefits even after eight to ten years of service. Successive governments have made poll promises but failed to regularise them.
What’s worse is that the present government has even started recruiting doctors on an outsource basis through private contractors at salaries which could be considered below the dignity of a class I medical officer.
“It is a sad state of affairs. The government is just shunning the responsibility of hiring people on its own. The outsourced employees are given full work and responsibility, and when it comes about their rights, the government says they are being hired by the contractors and the government has no role in it,” said retired officers, expressing disappointment over poor standards in government services.
The common people are disappointed over the situation. “Can anyone live with dignity with a honorarium or salary of Rs 5000 or Rs 10,000? When this cash-strapped government can re-employ retired officers/bureaucrats without even one day’s break, can hike salaries/perks of elected representatives, putting a great burden on the state exchequer, why can’t they think of the youth, who are the future of this state? What kind of vision and Vyavastha Parivartan is this,? many asked on social media.
While the Sukhu-led government has earned appreciation for welfare initiatives like the Sukh Ashray scheme for orphans, which has won national recognition, it has badly failed to address the concerns of educated unemployed youth. This growing discontent is expected to weigh heavily on the government over the next two years, ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for December 2027.
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