Kollam: The Tourism Professionals Association of Kerala has raised allegations of irregularities in the recruitment of professionals in the tourism department. The department allegedly appointed candidates without relevant qualifications in the posts of information officer, information assistant, supervisor, and tour guides with the department.
"In the examination conducted for the post of DTPC secretary, manipulation took place in awarding marks in both the examination and interview. Though there is a valid rank list for the post of DTPC secretary, temporary charges are being given in many centres across the state," said Aneesh Thannikan, state organiser of TPAK. "The persons appointed in various posts of DTPC and KTDC do not have the prescribed qualifications for the respective posts," he added.
The association has demanded that a degree or masters in tourism should be made mandatory for recruiting candidates for supervisory and managerial appointments with the department. "The forest department is getting huge income from the tourism sector. Such departments should have professionals who have prescribed qualification," Mr. Aneesh said. "The appointments in TourFed should also be brought under the scanner," he said.
For the post of assistant tourist information officer (ATIO), persons having any degree are being promoted by the department. The district co-ordinators of Responsible Tourism Mission do not have at least degree qualification. "While several qualified candidates having graduation and masters in tourism are awaiting a job, it is unfair to recruit people with irrelevant qualifications in the post. This also causes indefinite delay in executing the project and responsible tourism will remain on paper," Mr. Aneesh added.
Five candidates were recently appointed in the vacancy of tourist information officer through PSC selection process, while several posts that remain vacant have not been reported to the PSC.
The association has also warned of protest programmes if an inquiry into the irregularities in these appointments is not initiated.
