The Himachal Pradesh government’s move to create a new Directorate of Recruitment for expediting Group-C job recruitments has drawn widespread criticism, with many viewing it as an unnecessary burden on the already strained state finances.
The state, currently grappling with a debt of over ₹1 lakh crore, has been accused of diverting funds away from essential services while introducing new administrative bodies that may not serve their intended purpose.
The newly formed directorate, announced via a government notification, is meant to serve as a nodal department under the Department of Personnel, headquartered at the HP Secretariat in Shimla.
It will oversee direct recruitment for positions such as Junior Office Assistant (IT) and other Group-C posts across various government departments, ostensibly to provide more employment opportunities to the youth.
However, critics argue that instead of streamlining the process, the directorate may further complicate and delay recruitment by adding another bureaucratic layer. The Rajya Chayan Aayog, which already conducts recruitment based on proposals from concerned departments, could find its processes hindered rather than helped. Observers say the new body merely adds to the redundancy in an already sluggish system.
Some senior bureaucrats have defended the move, stating that the directorate would improve coordination and provide better oversight of vacancies across departments. But this view is not shared widely, especially among the state's unemployed youth, who are growing increasingly disillusioned.
In the past two and a half years, the state government has provided only around 25,000 jobs—most of them not in the coveted Class-I category.
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The promise of one lakh jobs in the first cabinet meeting and five lakh over five years, made by the Congress party during the 2022 elections, remains far from reality. Disappointed job seekers now view such assurances as hollow election rhetoric.
Additionally, the government’s failure to implement a promised policy for outsourced workers—many of whom lack financial security and proper wages—has further eroded public trust.
Skepticism is also mounting due to the government’s fiscal conduct. While citing a financial crunch to withdraw benefits like Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) for doctors and delay arrears for employees, the state has continued to fund foreign trips for officers and increase MLA salaries. Meanwhile, new recruitment is limited, and promotions are being blocked due to routine extensions and re-employment of senior officers.
Public opinion suggests that rather than establishing new departments, the government should focus on shutting down loss-making boards and corporations and adopting genuine austerity measures. Many citizens question the credibility of the so-called 'Vyavastha Parivartan' or systemic change, claiming it’s more of a slogan than a visible reality.
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