THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One of the most profitable public sector units in the state, Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) is keeping 358 Assistants Grade II ranklist candidates in waiting for just one reason: All of them are women. The main ranklist of the examination published on September 29, 2011, had 1082 candidates including 379 women. The first allotment of 308 candidates had 17 women while the second allotment on February 4, 2012, had only four. The Rankholders Forum allege that nearly 900 employees are working in KSBC on deputation. A reply form the KSBC under Right to Information Act says that 892 employees are working in ad hoc vacancies under conditions of deputation. It also states that there are no permanent staff in KSBC as Assistants grade II.But this is against the High Court directive that the posts held by temporary employees for more than one year should be reported to Public Service Commission.There are 338 Foreign Liquor I (FL I) shops for KSBC, where it needs one shop-in- charge each. But the special rules of KSB (M&M) Corporation prevents the appointment of women in FL I shops. This would hamper the chances of 358 women in the main list. ‘’We will be left out even after the male candidates in the supplementary list are appointed’’ says N K Priya, one of the rankholders. They cite this as a classic case of discrimination against women. ‘’Fifty percent of seats are reserved for women in civic bodies. There is no ban on women to work as KSRTC conductors, KSEB mazdoors or even Air Force pilots. Then how can KSBC deny women the post of shop-in-charge, when there is no ban on women purchasing liquor from FL shops?,’’ asks Binumol, secretary, Rankholders Forum KSBC Assistant grade II. Women rankholders also accuse that they are not given opportunities in the 21 warehouses, six regional offices, district audit team and KSBC headquarters. They allege it is an irony that nearly 75 percent among those working on deputation are women.
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