A different kind of mouse is set to invade the babudom. From July 2003, there will be no promotion or increment for 19 lakh government employees if they don’t turn computer-literate.As per a government resolution issued on July 20 and circulated to the government offices in the last two days, the General Administration Department (GAD) has made computer literacy mandatory for its employees in Classes I, II and III. Those who fail to obtain a certificate after an examination held by Maharashtra State Technical Education Board by July 20 will not be considered for promotions. If the employees under probation fail, they will not be absorbed in the service.The decision will be applicable to the government and semi-government staff in Mantralaya and allied offices, municipal corporations and councils, zilla parishads and government undertakings. The staff members who have completed 55 years of age have been exempted.The decision is strongly opposed by the unions. ‘‘Most of our employees have already given examinations for the computer certificate courses as directed by the government. Why should they appear for the examination again,’’ Mantralaya Karmachari Sangh General Secretary, Subhash Gangurde said.The union wants the July 2003 deadline to be extended to December 2003. ‘‘We have urged Chief Secretary V. Ranganathan to call a meeting to discuss our problems and we expect a positive response from him,’’ Gangurde added.‘‘We want the government to understand that 19 lakh employees in the state will need considerable period to learn computer,’’ said Ramdas Padwal of the Confederation of the State Government Employees. The unions have also objected to the scrapping of the previous decision to reimburse the course fees and pay each employee Rs 2,500 as incentive for learning computer. The new order says the employees will only get Rs 300 towards the examination fees.The controversy over the computer education of government employees began a year ago when it was found that some employees had submitted fake certificates and claimed reimbursement of fees and incentives. ‘‘If some employees played mischief, let the government punish them. Why are employees who have already passed the exam forced to re-appear?’’ Gangurde said.
