A cabinet meeting held in Sikkim has approved the creation of 22,746 positions on 20 February 2024.This is a significant step towards regularising the employment status of individuals currently engaged on a temporary basis across various departments.
These individuals include those working on an M.R. (management representative) basis, adhoc basis, contractual basis, one family one job (OFOJ), employees under consolidated pay, centrally-sponsored schemes, employees of campa (State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) projects under the forest department, home guards, village guards, nurses, ICDS- anganwadi workers and helpers, along with ASHA workers within the Department of Personnel (DoP), Government of Sikkim.
Along with this, the govt has announced 1,948 posts within the Education Department to regularise pre-primary, primary, graduate and post-graduate teachers. Temporary employees who have completed four years of service by 31 December, 2023, are entitled to regularisation, as announced on 9 February, 2024.
These initiatives aim to provide significant support to families in need, boost the confidence of regular staff, and ultimately contribute to the overall well-being and happiness of underprivileged families across the state.
Prem Singh Tamang, chief minister, Sikkim, through his official Facebook page, expressed that the government remains unwavering in its commitment to extending a helping hand to deprived families, offering every household with employment opportunities that lead to economic balance and prosperity.
Sikkim has also became the first state to reinstate the Old Pension System (OPS)for state government employees appointed on or after 1 April, 2006. The state has chosen to revert to the OPS, applying the Sikkim Services (Pension) Rules of 1990, for government employees appointed on or after 1 April, 2006, aligning them with the regulations applicable to employees appointed on or before 31 March, 2006.