(a) whether during budget speech reduction of manpower has been proposed in the
Ministries and Departments of Union Government;
(b) if so, the Ministry-wise and designation-wise details of proposed manpower
reduction; and
(c) the time by when this proposal is likely to be implemented?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATIL) :
(a) to (c) In his Budget Speech for the year 2001-2002, the Finance Minister announced
that the Expenditure Reforms Commission, which was set up last year, has presented reports
concerning downsizing in 6 Ministries and Departments. These include Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Ministry of Coal, Department of Heavy
Industry, Department of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Small Scale Industries. So far
as the Department of Economic Affairs is concerned, the Finance Minister announced that
he proposes to abolish three Secretary/Special Secretary level and two Joint Secretary
level posts apart from 44 posts of Directors and below, 1675 posts are being abolished in
the Currency and Coinage Division, which will be restructured and corporatised: the National
Savings Organisation is to be downsized from the level of 1191 staff to about 25. These
decisions would be implemented in phases by July 31, 2001. In respect of remaining 5
Ministries/ Departments also, the recommendations of the Expenditure Reforms Commission will
be implemented by July 31, 2001 and the exact details of the posts to be abolished would
be known only thereafter.