No Mercy for Government Employees: Staff Forced to Stay Beyond Tenure in Southern and Northern Islands

TMI Bureau

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 23: When an employee receives a transfer order to the Southern or Northern group of islands, they prepare mentally for a specific tenure as outlined in the transfer policy. However, they often face numerous challenges, including the lack of accommodation, government quarters, guest houses, mess facilities, boat or ship services, and even reliable mobile connectivity-challenges that affect both male and more to female employees.

In particular, police personnel, exhausted by their stressful duties and isolated from their families, are vulnerable to developing addictions, including alcoholism, which can negatively impact their lives. The prolonged and unjustified extension of postings in these remote islands leads to frustration, helplessness, and a decline in productivity, potentially causing depression.

Despite completing their designated tenure, many employees find themselves trapped in these remote locations due to favoritism and influence, with biased transfers mocking the principles of the transfer policy. Employees of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration who serve for years in challenging locations such as Car Nicobar, Katchal, Kamorta, Teresa, Campbell Bay, Little Andaman, Narcondam Island, and other remote islands are often compelled to remain stationed there even after completing their tenure, owing to inadequate infrastructure and biased practices.

Meanwhile, some employees manage to stay stationed comfortably in Port Blair for over a decade, which not only undermines the transfer policy but is also a clear injustice to those who dutifully accept their postings to remote islands.

According to the transfer policy, the tenure for Group 'A' and 'B' employees in the Southern group of islands is six months, while for Group 'C' and 'D' employees, it is twelve months. Teaching staff are expected to remain posted on these islands for a continuous period of ten months, aligning with the academic year.

Unfortunately, favoritism and influence often distort these policies, allowing certain individuals to evade remote postings while others are forced to endure extended stays. This blatant disregard for the policy takes place openly under the administration of the Chief Secretary, IAS officers, and DANICS officers.

To end this mockery of the transfer policy, it is essential to ensure that transfer orders are implemented fairly and in accordance with both the letter and spirit of the policy, protecting employees from the injustice of biased transfers.