Guwahati, Dec. 29: The government has accepted the recommendation of the cadre review committee to remove hurdles in the promotion prospects of Assam Civil Service officers.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi announced this at the open session of the 67th general conference of the ACS Officers’ Association here today.

In a long-standing demand, the association had asked the state government to publish and implement the revised cadre schedule of the service. The last review was carried out in 1994 though the service rules provide for a triennial review for the ACS.

The review committee, headed by additional chief secretary J.P. Rajkhowa, recently submitted its report recommending a revised schedule.

The conference expressed concern that a good number of ACS (class II) officers recruited in 1984 were yet to get their promotion to senior grade even 13 years after ACS-I and ACS-II were merged.

The association had submitted a proposal before the committee to make provisions for five posts of additional secretary, a new grade to be called “selection grade” above grade-I with a strength of 20 and increase in the strength of senior grade I and II to 55 and 369 respectively.

The conference urged the government to frame a long-term policy for the ACS to decide on the overall administrative structure and accordingly amend the service rules.

Gogoi, in his speech, underlined the need for running the administration with the same professional spirit as that of corporate houses to increase productivity.

“The administration should have a definite target and be oriented towards serving the people,” Gogoi said.

The chief minister underscored administrative reforms for bringing about a change in the mindsets of civil servants. “Rules should be interpreted to help the people,” he said.

“The bureaucrats should draw up schemes which generate employment so as to help improve the living standards of the people,” he said. Gogoi said the ACS officers would be given the best training in premier training institutions both in and outside the country.

The association has urged the government to ensure timely submission of annual confidential reports from the recording officers and accepting authority so that the officers concerned do not suffer from hurdles in timely promotion.

The conference expressed concern over the wrong utilisation of services of junior grade officers in duties other than those warranted by their service terms and conditions.