Agartala, Oct 19 (TIWN): Irritation and distress is brewing among the Library Science trained unemployed youths by the negligence of state government and Higher Education Department in Tripura. The recruitment process for the post of Librarians has been obstructed for long period. Almost all the general degree colleges in Tripura are facing lack of library staffs.

According to the Library Science trained unemployed youths, students of all degree colleges are not getting minimum facilities and services from the libraries due to the dearth of library staffs. At present there are 22 general government degree colleges including 26 public libraries existing in the state. Some of the college libraries are running by the group- D employees though many trained un-employed youths have been waiting for a govt. job years after years but they are being deprived by the state government, they said.

They also alleged that librarian’s recruitment process through Public Service Commission (PSC) has been stopped for the last 5 years but by this time six extra general degree colleges have been opened in different interior side of the state. Librarians posted in different govt. general degree colleges and public libraries are getting the lowest pay scale in the country.  The librarians of all categories in Tripura are getting Grade Pay of Rs 2100 with pay scale of Rs. 5310-24000, payband-2 which is equivalent to upper-division clerk pay scale in the state. In other states Librarians of college libraries are getting grade pay Rs. 6000, public library librarians are getting minimum grade pay Rs. 4000, they informed.

Surprisingly, after a shatter of 10 years, only 9 Librarians were promoted as senior librarians on the way back December 2012; by this time other 8 librarians were retired from their job without getting a single promotion in their entire service life, they added.

According to the aspirants, recently different colleges were found busy with decoration of their college libraries merely to get good grade from NAAC as well as for eye washing the NAAC by any means; after the completion of NAAC visit, everything will be changed as same was earlier.

In Tripura state civil services- Rules, 2009, in page no. 25, Sl. No.9, it has been clearly mentioned by the Finance Department, Govt. of Tripura- “job of librarian requires specialized skill & knowledge so that department where post of librarian exists, the RR’s shall be amended keeping in view the amend RR’s of Higher Education Department for the post” – this statement  clearly signifies and emphasis that “Librarian” post is a technical or professional post, but unfortunately Tripura state government treating them as a clerical post.