All persons seeking government job now to produce Loan Clearance Certificates

GANGTOK, 05 Feb: In another directive issued by the state government intended to prevent and curb truancy among the populace all hopefuls of landing a job with the state government need to get No Objection Certificates from various state run financial institutions. There has been a direction issued recently by the state government that all persons seeking employment in various posts in government service under the state government need to produce Loan Clearance Certificates from the state run financial institutions.
 In fact, the Department of Personnel has issued the directive stating that for the purpose of all fresh appointments in any posts in the government service is will be mandatory to produce Loan Clearance Certificates from the State Bank of Sikkim, Sikkim Industrial Development & Investment Corporation Limited (SIDICO) and the Sikkim Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes Financial Development Corporation (SABBCO).
Just a few weeks back there had been a similar kind of direction from the Department of Personnel linked to promotions wherein employees under the state government were directed to produce  clearances of utility bills and taxes at the time of their promotion. Along with the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) and the Annual Property Returns (APR) and other entitlements employees were directed to produce their utility bills including those of water supply, electricity bills, sewerage, ground rent, dhuri khazana whichever are applicable at the time of their promotion. It had not been clarified in the notification as to what prompted the government to adopt such measure however it is apprehended that nonpayment of pending dues, which have led to the accumulation of revenue owed to the government by employees and officials may have prompted such a stricture to be passed.
Similarly it is informed that there have been numerous instances when people have applied for loans from the state run financial institutions but have dithered in their loan repayments. In fact many loans have gone bad with the financial institutions having to be bailed out by the state government in numerous occasions. The other reason, it is informed, for the issuance of such a directive is that many have applied and been given Unemployment loans and then who have, subsequently, been absorbed into government service under the state government. More often than not, officials inform, once such a person gets government the loan taken usually goes bad.
It is also informed that for those seeking fresh appointment with the state and who have not taken any loans from the SBS, SABBCO or SIDICO, they will have to produce no objection certificates or similar documents stating that they do not have any loans in their name.