New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to introduce a reservation system in posts filled through contract and outsourcing. This move comes as pressure from political leaders and the growing opposition, urging the government to address the concerns of underrepresented communities. The situation’s urgency has prompted the government to consider implementing the reservation system before the upcoming by-elections for ten assembly seats.
The issue of reservation in contract and outsourcing recruitment was initially raised by the Legislative Committee, gaining significant momentum since then. The opposition parties have been vocal, cornering the government on this issue, leading to widespread discussions within the corridors of power. It is anticipated that the new reservation policy will offer 21% reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), 2% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 27% for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in contractual and outsourced recruitment.
Contract employees work directly under a government department with a fixed monthly salary, with the possibility of termination at any time; these positions are advertised by the department itself. Outsourced employees, on the other hand, are provided by third-party companies or agencies under specific contracts with the government. Like contract employees, they can also be terminated at any time. Both systems allow the government to benefit financially, as these employees do not receive the same salaries or benefits as regular government employees. Additionally, the government retains the flexibility to terminate contracts when necessary.
The UP government has increasingly relied on contractual and outsourced recruitment to manage its workforce. This approach helps the government in controlling financial burdens associated with permanent employment. Recently, more than 400,000 employees have been hired under these categories, with the largest numbers in the Medical and Health Department, Urban Development Department, Panchayati Raj Department, and Rural Development Department.
The government is currently collecting data on the number of contract and outsourced employees across various departments. For instance, in the Information Department, out of 676 employees, 512 are from reserved categories, with 340 belonging to the OBC category. This accounts for approximately 75%, even though the reservation rule is not yet applicable. Once the data collection is complete, the government will provide details on the distribution of employees by reserved categories. Currently, individual departments are responsible for hiring their contract and outsourced employees, with the highest numbers reported in medical, urban, and rural development sectors.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya recently sent a letter to the Appointments and Personnel Department, urging the implementation of the reservation system in contractual and outsourced recruitment. He also requested details on how many individuals from reserved categories have benefited from the existing system. The letter sparked a stir in political circles, from Lucknow to Delhi, as it went viral in the media.
The lack of permanent recruitment has raised concerns that the government might be trying to phase out the reservation system through increased contractual and outsourced hiring. To address this, there is a push to ensure that youth from reserved categories have equal opportunities in these roles within government departments. This issue has political implications, as the opposition may use it to appeal to backward and Dalit vote banks in the upcoming by-elections, making the implementation of reservations politically significant. Additionally, the move could alleviate pressure from party MLAs and ministers who have been advocating for the reservation system.
The reservation system for contracts and outsourcing was initially implemented by the Mayawati government in 2008. The Yogi government is now moving to restore this system, potentially shaping it to favor BJP’s political advantage among backward, Dalit, and tribal youth.
According to Devesh Chaturvedi, Additional Chief Secretary of the Personnel and Appointment Department, outsourced employees are not directly considered government employees, hence they do not currently benefit from the reservation system. Implementing reservations for outsourced employees will require stricter rules and regulations.
