Central GST union demands Govt to fill up 38,581 vacant posts
    Date :10-May-2019

 
 Business Bureau:
 
In Central GST Nagpur Zone, more than 100 posts are lying vacant at various levels 
 
A large number of posts are lying vacant in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) across the country. These posts need to be urgently filled up to increase the revenue collections and streamline operations. Existing employees are heavily overburdened with increasing workload leading to inefficiency, said union in Nagpur. According to the data given by Directorate General of Human Resource Development (DGHRD), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, the total sanctioned strength in the department was at 91,729 posts whereas the working strength in the department was only 53,148 posts as on January 1, 2019. This has resulted in 38,581 posts lying vacant in the department.
 
The vacancies are around 42 per cent of the sanctioned strength. Most surprisingly is the fact that compared to last years figures the number of vacant posts have shot up significantly. As per DGHRD data as on January 1, 2018, total sanctioned posts were at 84,866 whereas the working strength was at 51,137 posts, resulting in 33,729 posts lying vacant. The vacancy was about 40 per cent last year which has shot up to 42 per cent this year.
 
 
The data does not include strength of Cost Recovery posts. “In such situation, the Government is requested to start special recruitment drive to fill up these vacant posts in the interest of the nation,” said Sanjay Thul, President of All India Federation of Customs, Central Excise and GST SC/ST Employees Welfare Organisation, Nagpur. Furthermore, a letter in this regard has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in New Delhi on May 7, requesting to intervene at the earliest and solve the issue. Similarly, in Central GST Nagpur Zone, more than 100 posts are lying vacant at various levels. From the past one year, the senior posts like Commissioner of Customs and Commissioner of Audit are being managed by employees holding additional charge.
 
 
Similarly, a large number of posts of inspectors, superintendents and various other levels are also lying vacant which need to be filled up at the earliest, Thul said. The officers and staff working in the department are overburdened due to insufficient workforce, resulting in huge amount of work pending at various levels in the department. Revenue collections could also be hampered due to lack of adequate workforce. Government should start recruitment immediately so that work vacant positions can be utilised. It will reduce workload of employees. “Recruitment drive will give opportunity to the army of unemployed youths in the country,” Thul added.