Test halts work at Suvidha Centre

Anupam Bhagria

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 24 

High drama took place at the Suvidha Centre here today when employees refused to appear for an “efficiency and proficiency test” ordered by Rajat Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. Later, they took the test after the officers warned them of consequences.

At 4 pm, Supreet Gulati, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), along with Kanu Thind, Assistant Commissioner (Grievances), came to the centre for conducting an “efficiency and proficiency test” of these employees. Each of the employees was to take a typing test for 10 minutes. Apprehending danger to their jobs, many employees refused to take the test. 

Talking to The Tribune, Kamaljeet Kaur Brar, president of the Punjab State Suvidha Karamchari Union, Ludhiana, said: “We were told about this test on

Friday. Of all employees, some are assigned jobs requiring computer skills while others are put on sale of forms, stamp papers and distribution of tokens. So, it is not justified to put all of them to the typing test. We wanted that we should have been given at least one-month time before taking any such test.”

Many of the employees were apprehensive that after taking this test, they might lose their jobs. All this brought work at the centre to a halt for some time. Visitors had suffered for about an hour. After some time, all employees agreed to appear for the test when administrative officers told them that they might face action for their refusal to take test. 

Kanu Thind said: “This is a test to check their efficiency and proficiency. Only 10-minute typing test was conducted online in the evening.”

There are 157 employees at the centre. A few days ago, employees working at different Suvidha Centres of the state held a protest at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan and demanded permanent jobs for them with good pay scales. Last week, the employees worked even during the lunch hours to press for their demands.