Vacancies cripple functioning of Maharashtra Archaeology Deptt


By Kartik Lokhande 

Vacancies at various levels has crippled the functioning of Directorate of Archaeology, Maharashtra, that has under it six offices at major centres in State to look after numerous protected monuments. Facing the problem, the Directorate has proposed to the State Government to fill up the vacancies and also increase budget for proper conservation and repairs of monuments.
Under the Directorate of Archaeology, there are six major offices namely at Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik, Ratnagiri, and Nanded apart from Mumbai headquarters. Of these six offices, three do not have full-time Joint Director. Shrikant Gharpure is Joint Director at Nashik, B V Kulkarni at Ratnagiri, and V Kamble at Pune. As three other posts are vacant, Kamble has got additional charge of Aurangabad; Anand Bhoyar, who was Technical Assistant at Amravati, had got additional charge of Nanded; M Y Kathane, who is Curator of Nagur Central Museum, holds additional charge of Nagpur office. Bhoyar retired two months ago, and since then additional charge of Nanded is with Vilas Wahane working in Pune office.
There are vacancies at other levels also. As far as Vidarbha region is concerned, it has as many as 80 monuments under the department. Nagpur branch of Directorate of Archaeology looks after entire Vidarbha, and takes care of conservation and repairs of monuments. Presently, the branch has only three employees and the post of Junior Engineer is vacant. As a result, Conservation Assistant is holding additional charge as Junior Engineer. Similarly, Amravati office has two posts of Technical Assistant and a peon. It looks after eight to 10 monuments in Amravati Division covering five districts.
Nagpur office had 30-35 monuments under its jurisdiction previously and then it had almost equal number of watchmen in permanent service. Gradually, most of these watchmen retired from service. At present, there are only five watchmen -- one each at Saoner, Ramtek, Nagardhan, Gondia, and Sindkhedraja. The watchman at Nagardhan is appointed on daily wages.
Sanjay Patil, Director (Archaeology), told ‘The Hitavada’ that the Directorate of Archaeology had requested the Government to fill up the vacant posts and had already floated an advertisement. “The written examination and interviews are scheduled in August. Thought is also being given to appoint watchmen. However, as far as higher posts are concerned, it is for the Government to respond,” he said. Asked about the budgetary requirements of the Directorate, Patil said that he had moved a request to the Government to raise the budget for better conservation and repairs of monuments.
The department has also submitted a revised staffing pattern to the Government. Under this, 34 posts have got approval. Soon, 22 posts will be filled up and written examination for the purpose is scheduled on August 3, and interviews on August 10. A proposal to appoint 70 watchmen on daily wages also has been prepared.
The Department of Archaeology has issued advertisement for recruitment in Group C and D for the posts of Assistant Superintendent, Cameraman, Caretaker, Clerk-cum-Typist, Driver, Mali, Museum Assistant, Peon, Sub Overseer, Taxidermist, Technical Assistant (Exploration), and Technical Assistant in Department of Archaeology in Mumbai. A total of 22 posts are to be filled up through the exercise. How far will this exercise help in conservation remains a question as maximum nine posts are of peons, who cannot be expected to be experts in conservation. 

(Published in The Hitavada CityLine on July 21, 2014) 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chanda boy Dr Vipin Itankar is UPSC topper in State

Hinganghat: Here rests the great surveyor of India...

Eknath Ranade, the man with ‘Rock’ solid determination