Goa Government's Rs 1 Crore Expenditure on Residential Peons for Bureaucrats Revealed
In a significant disclosure, it has come to light that the state exchequer of Goa has disbursed approximately Rs 1 crore over the past two years to fund the appointment of muster roll peons at the private residences of senior bureaucrats. This expenditure covers the placement of support staff for over 125 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Goa Civil Service (GCS) officers who are entitled to this facility under existing government regulations.
Daily Allowance and Eligibility Criteria
Officers eligible for this scheme receive a daily allowance ranging from Rs 515 to Rs 612 to recruit a muster roll peon for their homes. Since the beginning of 2024, records indicate that at least 30 officials have availed themselves of this benefit. Notably, this privilege is explicitly not extended to ministers, as clarified by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the portfolio of General Administration.
The clarification emerged during a legislative session when Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas inquired whether ministers could access the muster roll peon facility. Chief Minister Sawant responded in the negative, highlighting the distinct entitlements between elected representatives and career bureaucrats.
Government Order and Entitlement Structure
In 2022, the Goa government formalized this arrangement through an official order that delineates the entitlements for muster roll peons. According to the directive:
- The Chief Secretary is authorized to have three muster roll peons or multi-tasking staff members posted at their residence.
- Secretaries operating in the super time scale are eligible for two such staff members.
- Officers serving as Secretaries, Special Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, and Additional Joint Secretaries, along with IAS officers of the senior time scale, are entitled to one multi-tasking staff member.
- Additionally, Goa Civil Service officers of the senior scale and above are permitted to retain one muster roll peon.
Selection and Payment Mechanisms
The government order further stipulates that officials granted this facility possess the right to select a peon of their preference. The salary for the appointed individual is directly deducted from the budget of the department where the officer is currently posted. Moreover, the wages payable to the muster roll peon must align with the rates specified in notifications issued by the Commissioner of Labour and Employment, ensuring compliance with state-mandated compensation standards.
This revelation sheds light on the operational costs associated with supporting high-ranking civil servants in Goa, sparking discussions about public expenditure and administrative privileges within the state's governance framework.
