Delhi government departments facing shortage of staff

NEW DELHI: All Delhi government departments are facing acute shortage of staff especially Transport, Health, Education and Social Welfare department.

According to Delhi Service department official, the Department for Welfare of Dalits, Tribals and Minorities has been working with a vacancy of about 60 per cent. The health department is facing 55 percent shortage of doctors, lab technicians and para medical staffs. "All departments in the Delhi government has staff shortage. There is shortage in the Health Department also. But in my departments, the staff shortage is a little more," said a senior officer.

In Delhi, the Services Department which oversees the appointment of officers is under the ambit of central government appointed Lieutenant- Governor, with whom the AAP government has been in a rocky relationship for the four years it has been in power.

Similarly, the education department is suffering lack of teaching staffs. There is the sanctioned strength of 66,736 teachers in Delhi government schools, only 38,926, or 58.3%, are filled at the moment. Of these, 21,926 are regular and 17,000 are guest teachers.

Delhi Social Welfare official talked about the difficulties the AAP government faces and tussle for power between the Delhi government and the LG Anil Baijal. Several officials also said that the Social Welfare Department has been facing "approximately 48 per cent staff shortage". It may be noted that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had written to the LG about the vacant posts about seven months back, but the LG has not replied yet.

The Social Welfare officer said that the Special Director's post in Social Welfare Department was lying vacant and also there was no fulltime Director, as the officer holds an additional charge of Department of Women and Child Development.