Domicile Criteria in Local Employment

Demand to protect interest of local candidates in jobs gaining relevance and momentum in the wake of visit of Hon’ble President of India

By

Debkumar Bhadra

Separation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from mainland India by vast expanse of sea led the islands to develop into a treasure trove of biodiversity with a very high degree of endemism. To protect this unique biological wealth, 86 % (7170.69 sqkm) of the total land area (8249 sqkm) of the islands has been classified as Reserved and or Protected Forests. If deemed forests are taken into consideration, approximately 94% falls under one or the other kind of protection regimen, leaving very little for civilian use.

However in consonance with strategic view point, the islands have been populated under various Rehabilitation and Colonisation schemes of Govt of India. Later a good number of families from mainland India migrated to these islands in search of employment and ended up adding to the existing population of old inhabitants (persons settled prior to 1942). Thus a peculiar population structure, comprising of as many as six PVTG’s, old inhabitants, settlers, subsequent migrant families and their respective descendants began to identify themselves as locals, co-habiting these far flung islands..

With passage of time, population of these islands grew, so does its needs and aspirations. However environmental restrictions and logistic constraints inhibited growth of employment ventures. Absence of public/private sector manufacturing industries combined with restrictions under stringent environment and forest laws, the local’s inhabitants have no option but to depend on Govt sector job opportunities. The situation was manageable till safeguard in the form of essential “local certificate” in employment was in place. Unfortunate scraping of “local” criteria led to opening up of jobs to candidates outside the islands. It is available on record that till administrative safeguard was in place, out of 1380 appointments made between 2001 and 2005, only 2 non-local candidates got appointed under A&N Administration.

The scenario changed drastically ever since essential “local criteria” in appointments has been completely done away with. The situation got aggravated further due to improvement in transport and communication. Local employment notices are now listed by search engines through world wide web networks. Candidates from outside A&N Islands are taking advantage of this are and taking away island jobs. Gravity of the problem is reflected from the fact that close to 200 non-local candidates applied for the recently advertised 422 posts of teachers under Directorate of Education, A&N Administration. This sharp rise in representation of non-locals in jobs under local Administration is denting the prospects of local job aspirants.

The situation is so grim that, as of now, every fourth local in the productive age group is left without a proper job. These are the persons who have been born, brought-up, studied and eventually would be laid to rest in these islands. They neither have the means nor the isolation of these islands allow them to compete with their mainland counterparts. It is therefore grossly unfair to open up local vacancies to candidates outside the islands. The fact that so far only two candidates have been able to clear UPSC Civil Services examination is a stark reminder to the kind of backwardness islands youths are facing being born and brought up in these Islands. Therefore it is imperative that necessary administrative safeguard ought to be put in place to protect the interest of local job aspirants. 

It is understood that effort to promulgate the “Public Employment (Requirement as to Residence) Regulation” under Article 240 of the Constitution is held up at various levels of administrative decision making process indicating such effort is not going to bear fruit in the near future. Under such compelling circumstances it would be fair and just to take some administrative measures at the island level such as :

-      For all local jobs, registration in the Local Employment Exchange could be made compulsory.

-      For all Group-C and where-ever possible Group-B posts, pass in qualifying examination from the islands could be made compulsory.

-      Local candidates could be given additional weightage in recruitment process.

-      It could be mentioned in the employment notice that selected candidates should execute an agreement to serve the island administration for a specified period (say 10 years).

-      In case of tie, local candidates could be preferred over non-locals. 

Another important step that could go a long way is strict avoidance of bunching-up of posts. Meaning all posts falling vacant should be filled up at the instant of creation/falling vacant. This will reduce number of vacancies available at any point in time, thus likely to dissuade non-local candidates to apply for such limited number of posts.

I sincerely believe the authorities would take note of the suggestions put forth and also invite opinion from local stakeholder, collate the data relating to representation of non-locals in jobs under A&N Administration following scrapping of local criteria, specially during the period 2005-2013 and take-up the issue with the home ministry on the basis of new and emergent facts, urging it to take a fresh look at the whole issue.

The post has been carried in The Echo of India dated 06/01/2014 and a a news report on the article was carried in Andaman Sheekha dated 07/01/2014.