According to the Institute authorities, advertisements inviting applications for these posts were published in 2007. Later, the files of shortlisted candidates were sent to the state Finance Department, which are now gathering dust.
Gujarat Vidyapith Registrar Rajendra Khimani said the Centre has already given nod for the appointments, which will be made by the Finance Department. “The university has sent the file to the Finance Department. But we don’t know the progress of our dialogues,” he said.
TRTI research officials said that six years ago, the then Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar had visited the Institute and acknowledged the problems arising out of the shortage of staff. They added that as against the requirement of 80 staff, Gujarat Vidyapith hardly has a strength of 40, including Class-I, II and III officials.
A M Tiwari, Secretary, Tribal Development Department, said: “TRTI is doing a good work. To solve the staff-crunch issue, we have asked them to collaborate with other research organisations. As a member of the TRTI academic council, we also plan to sort out these things as soon as possible.”
Despite not having enough staff, the Institute has been scrutinising caste certificates coming from across the state. It also takes up at least two government projects every year.
TRTI Director Chandrakant Upadhayay said while other states have two to three separate research wings, in Gujarat, there is one tribal research Commissionerate.
“We had issued an advertisement for the posts of deputy director and lecturers. We could not appoint them on fixed pay scale, therefore the matter has been delayed,” he said.