Basic Computer Literacy necessary qualification for clerks and stenos

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 6

The Haryana Government has made “Basic Computer Literacy” as a necessary qualification for clerks and stenographers as a part of their service rules.

        A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, here today.

        The Cabinet also decided to raise the bar of minimum educational qualifications for the posts of clerks, steno-typists and stenographers and revise the same from 'Matriculation' to 10+2 level. For promotion to the post of clerk from Group - D employees and restorers in class-III, the minimum educational qualification has been upgraded as 10+2.

       As 'Clerk' and 'Steno-typist' are common category posts across all  government departments with clearly defined promotional hierarchies, it has been decided to change the posts bearing multiple nomenclatures such as 'Clerk-cum-Computer Operator', 'Office Associate', 'Clerk-cum-Data Entry Operator', 'Data Entry Operator' and 'Clerk-cum Typist' to a single and uniform nomenclature of 'Clerk' in all government departments.

        The earlier condition of 'type test' for a clerk has been substituted by 'Basic Computer Literacy' which would be acquired by the employee within a period of two years of joining the service (extendable by one more year). The employee would not be entitled to earn any increments till he or she acquires the requisite computer literacy capability during this period, including the extended period of one year, failing which the services of such employee would be dispensed with.

        The persons who would be promoted to the post of clerk would qualify the State Eligibility test in Computer Appreciation and Application (SETC) within the period of probation of one year, extendable by one year. In case he or she does not clear the test within this period, he or she would be reverted back.

              Besides SETC, the employees have to pass a test in typing speed to be conducted by HARTRON in accordance with the syllabus prescribed by the government. The 'pass' certificate issued by HARTRON would be accepted as an evidence of the fulfilment of the prescribed condition of the proposed service rules. The government would reimburse the fees paid by the employee concerned in acquiring the prescribed qualification or capability in Basic Computer literacy, on production of the requisite certificate or after passing the SETC, at the approved rates.

        The employees who have done M. Tech or B. Tech (Computers), MCA, BCA or Diploma in Computers from recognized institutions, or have Basic Computer Literacy Certificate from any recognized centre established under the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) or have Haryana State — Certificate in Information Technology [HS-CIT] from the Authorized Learning centres (ALCs) of the HKCL or those who have already passed the SETC and Physically disabled candidates would be exempted from taking the SETC.

        The Cabinet also approved the proposal for taking out the post of Junior Programmer and Network Assistant (Group C) of Haryana Raj Bhawan from the purview of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission.