Himachal government gets tough; action to be taken against those evading duty in tribal areas.

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government is preparing to take a strict stance against officers and employees who evade duty despite being posted in tribal and remote areas. In this regard, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) has sought detailed reports from the concerned departments. Once the reports are received, the matter will be placed before the Chief Minister so that necessary administrative and policy decisions can be taken.

According to government sources, complaints had been received from various departments indicating that some officers and employees were citing various reasons to avoid posting in tribal areas or were failing to serve the stipulated tenure. This has been adversely affecting health, education, and other essential government services in these regions.

In view of this, the government has requested comprehensive details regarding such cases from all relevant departments. The reports will include information on which officers and employees obtained exemptions from tribal area postings, the grounds on which such relief was granted, and the current number of vacant posts in those areas.

The government holds the view that citizens in tribal areas should receive quality government services just as those in other regions do; therefore, ensuring the availability of adequate staff in these areas is a priority for the administration. If an investigation reveals that an officer or employee attempted to evade duty without a valid reason, action could be taken against them under service rules.

Once prepared, the report will be submitted to the Chief Minister. Based on this, consideration may be given to making the posting policy for tribal areas more effective, filling vacant posts, and issuing new guidelines if necessary.

Administrative experts believe that ensuring the regular availability of staff in remote and tribal areas will improve the quality of education, health, revenue, and other government services. Meanwhile, the government maintains that its objective is not to punish employees unnecessarily, but to make the system more accountable and effective.