While the future of CIC operators engaged almost more than a decade ago hangs in balance they have become really change makers by running as many as 26 portals in the rural development department of the J&K Government. What matters the most is the fact that most of them are holding PG degrees in computer applications and other relevant subjects and even some of them are in possession of M. Phil degree. Since most of them have put in even more than 15 years of service on contractual basis it would be better for the government to carry forward the process of their regularisation so that the experience gained by them in maintaining and upgrading digitisation of the government records is used for more gainful purposes not only in the Rural Development Department but also in other government departments and autonomous organisations of the J&K Government. Since the jobs they are performing in Rural Development Department become more and more relevant in most of the other departments and autonomous organsations of J&K Government also due to non stop advances in the digital technology, their presence in almost all the government departments and autonomous organisations is required in future also. Fortunately the process for their regularisation has not to be initiated afresh but it is already under process for last more than eight years. By all standards of understandabilities their technical experience in the digitisation of government records will surely go waste if their services are not regularisation and it also a fact that once they are denied the right to regularisation of their services the government won’t find any short cut to issue fresh advertisements for fresh selection process if not in coming months but surely in coming years. After the clearance of the Finance Department and legal opinion of the department having come in the favour of their much sought regularisation way back in the year 2017, the delay in their regularisation is surprising and unfortunate.
Since Principal Secretary General Administration Department has said that the case of CIC Operators would be examined on the basis of merit before forwarding it to the highest panel for approval, there is every possibility that government may give it’s final nod to regularisation of CIC operators in coming few month with the intent of giving them an opportunity to change their role from change makers to game changers in future. Henceforth ultimately the GAD decision on regularisation of CIC Operators would decide their destiny.
Since the aggrieved CIC operators have grievance only against General Administration Department (GAD) for putting down their case the intervention of the Lt Governor and Chief Secretary could hopefully settle the issue of their regularisation. Since Principal Secretary General Administration Department has said that the case of CIC Operators would be examined on the basis of merit before forwarding it to the highest panel for approval, there is every possibility that government may give it’s final nod to regularisation of CIC operators in coming few month with the intent of giving them an opportunity to change their role from change makers to game changers in future. Henceforth ultimately the GAD decision on regularisation of CIC Operators would decide their destiny.