Linking Employee Salaries to iGOT Training: Protests and Revisions in the Ministry’s Decision
Introduction:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) recently issued a circular linking employee salaries to the completion of iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training). This move led to widespread dissatisfaction among employees, prompting a revision to the order just a day later.
The iGOT Training: Preparing for the Future
The purpose of the iGOT training is to make civil servants “future-ready.” This platform is designed to enhance the skills of government employees and help them understand new policies and procedures. The training includes several courses, such as Parliamentary Procedures, Team Building, and Gender Sensitization.
The Initial Order and the Controversy
On November 18, 2024, an office memorandum was issued, directing all accounting officers to clear the salary bills of only those employees who had completed their mandatory iGOT courses. For those who hadn’t completed the training, the salary bills were to be withheld until further notice.
This immediately sparked protests from the Akashvani and Doordarshan Engineering Employees Association, which sent a letter to the Ministry’s Secretary, Sanjay Jaju, expressing their concerns. The association argued that salaries are considered property under Article 300A of the Indian Constitution and cannot be withheld without lawful justification. They requested the ministry to reconsider the order and take corrective action.
Modification of the Order and the Ministry’s Response
On November 19, 2024, the Ministry issued another office memorandum revising the original order. It removed the reference to withholding salaries and instead stated that a status report should be provided on the completion of onboarding onto the iGOT platform for all employees. The revised memorandum no longer mentioned salary withholding.
A senior ministry official clarified that there had been a “miscommunication” and explained that the intention was to track which officers had not yet onboarded onto the iGOT platform. The official emphasized that salaries cannot be withheld in this manner.
Prime Minister’s Focus and Future Plans
Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of iGOT training during a review meeting with secretaries in October 2024. He instructed the ministers to ensure that all officials in their respective departments complete their training modules.
On October 18, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a circular regarding the Mandatory Training Requirement during National Learning Week. The circular instructed all employees to complete a minimum of four hours of training on the iGOT Karmayogi portal between October 19 and 25, 2024. It also stated that non-compliance would be taken seriously.
In an effort to encourage participation, the Ministry set up an iGOT Lab to facilitate online learning for employees. Additionally, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L Murugan directed that all employees should be onboarded to the platform within four days. To further motivate employees, the Ministry decided to felicitate those who complete the highest number of courses each quarter.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the importance of considering employees’ rights and legal protections when implementing government policies. While the initiative to promote iGOT training is commendable, linking it to salary withholding was both unconstitutional and could have led to employee dissatisfaction.
Harvkat News
