Know IT, else no promotion, govt tells its employees

Cabinet decides to cut increments of computer illiterates

The State Cabinet on Friday decided to make it compulsory for a large section of government employees to equip themselves with working computer knowledge and pass a computer literacy test (CLT) to be eligible for future promotions and annual increments.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister Suresh Kumar said employees who would be recruited directly to government service hereafter shall have to pass CLT, to be conducted by their respective departments, within three months of joining the service.

In service government employees below 50 years will have to pass the CLT to prove that they have acquired working computers knowledge within the next three years. “If they do not pass the test within three years, they will not be eligible for promotion and if they remain computer illiterate even after four years their annual increments will be withheld,” Suresh Kumar said. 

In order to motivate its employees to acquire computer knowledge, those who pass the test will be provided one time incentive of Rs 5,000.

Those already serving but crossed 50 years of age would be exempted from mandatory computer learning. 

 

However, the scheme is not mandatory for Group D employees and certain categories of employees such as primary school teachers, nurses, police constables, drivers, forest guards, excise guards and health workers. In all, around four lakh government employees will have to equip themselves with computer knowledge.

Cases withdrawn

In another major decision, the Cabinet decided to withdraw 29 police cases filed against 200 farmers during various agitations from 2004 in the districts of Dharwad, Davanagere, Mandya, Bangalore Rural, Raichur, Bagalkot and Shimoga.

The cases had been registered when the farmers were agitating against fertilizer shortage, land acquisition, unscientific pricing for paddy, power cuts among others, Suresh Kumar said.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to acquire land in Nelamangala, Bangalore Rural district to raise a battalion. Suresh Kumar said that CISF planned to spend Rs 100 crore on the proposal and the necessary land of 55 acres 36 guntas would be allotted to them at the market rate of Rs 27.75 crore

In another decision, the Cabinet gave its nod for construction of a building in Bangalore to house the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) at a cost of Rs 17 crore. The building will come up between Multi-Storied Building and Karnataka Public Service Commission.

Eagleton

The Cabinet also decided to take back 55 acre land allotted to Eagleton Golf Village owned by Chamundeshwari Buildtech Pvt Ltd and charge market value for another 71 acre 16 gunta from the builders as per the direction of the Supreme Court.

Other decisions

* Cabinet committee constituted to study recommendations made by the Justice B K Somashekar Commission of Inquiry constituted to probe attack on churches in State. Committee to submit report in one month.

* Govt school in Yelahanka to be shifted to make way for BMTC bus station. BMTC to pay Rs one crore to the school development & monitoring committee. 

* Approval for improvement of State Highway 88 between Mysore and Bantawal (219 km) at a cost of Rs 538 crore

* Approval for construction of  multi-storied residential cum commercial complex at Vijayanagar in Bangalore for employees of KHB at a cost of Rs 22 crore

* Construction of  ring road between Kanakadasa Road and Hampi Road in Hospet City at a cost of Rs nine crore