NEW DELHI: The annual rise in the number of employees in Central ministries and various departments during 1992-93 will be less than half of the usual increase witnessed in the last few years. This is in keeping with the government’s resolve to keep a check on the steadily rising wage bill for the growing number of employees.

According to official documents, the total number of Central government employees will increase by 45,036 during 1992093, compared to a growth of over a lakh during the current financial year.

The estimated strength of government employees by the end of March 1993 will be 42,34 lakh against 41.89 lakh by the end of March 1000. The number of government employees by the end of March 1991 was estimated at 40.81 lakh.

The annual expenditure on pay to these employees will however go up to Rs 6,6323 crore in 1992-93, compared to Rs 6,290 crore in 1991-92. But the significant point here is that during 1991-92, the government has effected a saving of over Rs 6,893 crore in 1991-92, the revised expenditure under this head shows a drop to Rs 6,290 crore only. The savings has been achieved by effecting a 10 percent cut in the budgeted growth in employment during the current year.

There are also plans to effect a small cut in the travel expenses government employees during 1992-93. These will decline to RS £888.88 crore during the next year from Rs 428,29 crore in 1991-92.

The only area where it has failed to check expenditure on its staff is in regard to allowances other than travel expenses. These are slated t0 go up to Rs 5,969.15 crore in 1992-93, comparedtoRS5,179,17 crore in 1991-92.

For the first time in several years, the number of employees in many Center a ministries and departments will decline with this exercise to prune the size of the bureaucracy. The agriculture ministry will have 12,298 employees at the end of March 1993, compared to 12,752 at the end of March 1992. The defence ministry will have over 1,241 employees less at 38,681 by end-March 1993, against 19943 employees by end March 1992. The department of industrial development also will have 201 employees essat3,792 by the end of March 1993. The planning Commission would have reduced its staff to 5315 from5,341 during the next year. The ministries of urban development and rural development will also have les staff at the end of the next year. Staff employed in Delhi will decline to 1,38,785 by end-March next 1992.

Sharp increase in employment will however continue in departments like the police under home ministry and the railways. Employment in police will group from 5,05,559 10 5,14,874 during the next one year. The railways t00 will have 12,000 more staff by the end of March 1993 from 18,07,000 it has now. The health ministry also will have 1,270moreemployes by the end of next year from 40, 619 employees as on March 1992,

Article extracted from this publication >> March 13, 1992