These could include cleaning of premises, horticultural work, housekeeping services, maintenance of buildings, transport services, IT services, secretarial services, courier services, highly technical and professional services.

In a communication to all heads of departments, the state chief secretary directed them to clearly specify the nature of services to be outsourced by their respective departments.

The departments will have to ensure there are no regular employees working on such posts that can carry out the same work.

While outsourcing services, the departments will have to ensure minimum prescribed standards are met and regular monitoring of the services is done.

In districts, where several government departments are located under one roof in mini-secretariat buildings, respective deputy commissioners have been authorised to identify services that need to be outsourced.

Under the new policy, departments can hire people to work on certain posts if regular staff is not available and the requirement is in public interest.

Persons already employed on contract will be treated under the provisions of the new policy in future. Guidelines have been provided in the new policy for engaging people in future.