Yet again - ONGC changes job rotation policy
ONGC continues to be haunted by complaints of favouritism.
And this, even as it releases a second job rotation and transfer policy in under a year. On November 8 (2024), ONGC announced more comprehensive inclusions and alterations to its job rotation and transfer policy, last updated on January 13 (2024).
Besides EDs, two general managers drive the HR policy: GM and HR planner technical Manish Kumar Madhup and GM and HR planner production Ujjwal Swaroop Singh. "Both are close to the top," says a source.
Many at ONGC, especially those in remote northeast locations, are unhappy about the frequent policy changes. Under the latest order, one more category is included in the list of "clusters" announced earlier this year.
Rajahmundry and Kakinada are now a single cluster, like Ahmedabad-Mehsana, Cambay-Ankleshwar-Baroda and Jorhat-Sivasagar-Nazira. "For the transfer policy to limit the period of cumulative posting for E1-E6 (entry level officer to general manager) to ten years and three years posting for sensitive positions in one city/location, the below-mentioned locations would be considered as a single cluster/single location," says the new policy.
Many are asking why cushy locations like Delhi and Dehradun have not been clubbed into a cluster to prevent officers from spending too much time there. "Why haven't they declared Delhi-Dehradun as one cluster, Panvel-Uran-Mumbai as one cluster, or Bokaro-Kolkata as one cluster?" wonders a source.
"Because they want to keep circulating their favourites to these locations while letting others rot in remote locations." Old complaints that those with influence secure postings in the Delhi-Dehradun sector and never leave for decades are surfacing again.
"Even before this order was passed (on November 8), those with influence have been sent off to Dehradun," says another source. "They will then keep getting posted to OVL, the (oil) ministry, or the DGH to remain in or around the national capital."
In addition to clusters, 'difficult location' categories have been added to the policy. Category-1 difficulty is Nazira, Sivasagar, Guwahati, Jorhat, and Silchar in Assam and Agartala in Tripura.
Category-2 is Karaikal in Puducherry. Category-3 is Cambay in Gujarat and Kakinada and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.