SPARK Kerala: Everything You Need to Know About the Employee Portal

In 2017, a Kerala government employee had to manually track leave applications and salary. Now, after SPARK Kerala, the digital HR and payroll system, all this is seamless. Today, they can manage all the HR tasks effortlessly, and that is the role of SPARK Kerala in transforming government operations for efficiency and convenience.

SPARK Kerala is the human resource and payroll application of Kerala that deals with records, salary, and services on the web for government employees. Introduced in 2007 by the Finance Department, the project would digitise all human resource and salary data regarding government staff for easier management and accessibility. It forms part of the state's e-Governance initiative.

What is SPARK Kerala?

SPARK Kerala is an abbreviation for Service and Payroll Administrative Repository for Kerala. It is an online system to manage the records of government employees in Kerala, including their human resources, salary, and account details. The system makes the administration of these processes smooth for the employees of the state.

Features of SPARK Kerala

• HR Management.
• Payroll Management
• Reports for decision-making

1. Major Functions in HR Management

Attendance Management: SPARK Kerala's attendance module processes data from biometric systems. It's currently being piloted in the Government Secretariat under the supervision of the Principal Secretary (GAD).

Leave Management: The leave application module in SPARK Kerala is active and also piloted in the Government Secretariat. Employees can apply for leaves and out-of-office duties, while higher officials can approve them online. Further software development is required to integrate this with the Accountant General’s leave accounting system. A working group has been formed to reengineer the process, with the first meeting scheduled for next week.

Online General Transfer Application: SPARK Kerala integrates a module of processing General Transfer Applications based on the guidelines given by P&ARD. It was tested in the Directorate of Medical Education and is going to be used this year by departments such as Health Services, Medical Education, Ayush, and Agriculture.

Annual Property Returns Filing: The annual property returns module of SPARK Kerala is fully functional and used by several departments. From next year, employees from all departments will be asked to file their property returns through this system.

2. Major functions available under payroll management

1. Salary, arrears and allowances of Permanent and Temporary employees

• Salary Arrears
• DA Arrears
• Leave surrender
• Terminal surrender
• Festival allowance/advance

2. PF Transactions

• PF Advance Withdrawals
• Non-Refundable Withdrawals
• PF Closure

3. Claims

• Travelling Allowance
• Festival Advance
• Medical claim etc
  
  

3. Reports for decision-making

• Employee datasheet
• Retirement due list
• Office list
• Pay processing status reports

Overview of the SPARK Kerala

The software covers activities in the following areas: 

• System administration, 
• Service Matters
• Salary Matters
• Income tax  
• Accounts matter. 

The following are the detailed objectives in each area of activity.

How to register for SPARK Kerala?

1. Visit the official homepage of SPARK Kerala.
2. Click on ‘Not registered a user yet; register now.’
3. On the next page, fill in the details (like permanent employee number, name, DOB, Aadhar card number, mobile number).
4. Create your password and confirm it.
5. Click on ‘Verify.’
6. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
7. Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
8. You’ve successfully registered into SPARK Kerala’s portal.

What is SPARK Kerala PMU?

The SPARK Kerala PMU is committed to supporting SPARK Kerala users from all departments, continually improving the system based on feedback from the users and internal research. Support is rendered both offsite and onsite through well-trained Master Trainers (MTs), Department Master Trainers (DMTs), and SPARK Kerala Help Desks located at the District Treasury. 

There is also a regional helpdesk in Kannur to cover the northern districts. Support services are accessible through phone, email, chat, direct visits to help desks and on-site assistance.

• Call Support Facility
  

Telephone support is available on working days from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Experienced Master Trainers at the SPARK Kerala Project Management Unit assist users with issues and best practices. Unresolved issues are handled via email. Call: (0471) 2579700.

• Email Support
  

For applications, error reports, and service requests with documents, email info@SPARK Kerala.gov.in. Department officials should use official email IDs. Messages should be clear with attachments. Master Trainers will review and respond, contacting the sender for further clarifications if needed.

• Chat Support

SPARK Kerala PMU offers “SPARK Kerala LIVE CHAT” for users to connect directly with expert chat operators. Accessible on the SPARK Kerala login page, users can join by entering their name, PEN, and registered mobile number. Feedback shows it's highly effective.

How to log into SPARK Kerala?

1. Visit the official homepage of SPARK Kerala.
2. Enter your user code, password, and captcha, and click on ‘Sign In.’
3. For the first time login, you will be asked to change your password.
4. Enter your current password, and new password, confirm your new password, and click on ‘Confirm.’
5. You’ve successfully registered into SPARK Kerala’s portal.

How to reset the password of SPARK Kerala?

1. Visit the official homepage of SPARK Kerala.
2. Click on ‘Forgot Password.’
3. On the next page, enter your User Code.
4. Enter your DOB and Email address, and click on ‘Submit.’
5. Verify your mobile number by clicking on ‘Verify.’
6. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number, and click on the ‘Confirm’ button.
7. Enter your new password, re-enter it, and click on the ‘Confirm’ button.
8. This is how you can change your password.

How to update Promotion Order in SPARK Kerala

1. Visit the official homepage of SPARK Kerala.
2. Enter your user code, password, and captcha and click on ‘Sign In.’
3. Once you log in, click on the ‘Salary Matters’ 3rd option in the navigation bar.
4. Select ‘Changes in the month’ from the drop-down menu.
5. Select ‘Present Salary’ from the drop-down menu.
6. You’ll see the present salary details.
7. Now click on ‘Service Matters’ 2nd option in the navigation bar.
8. Select ‘Promotion/Grade/Reversion’ from the drop-down menu.
9. Select ‘Generate Promotion Order’ from the drop-down menu.
10. Fill in the details and click on the ‘Confirm’ button.

How to update LPC in SPARK Kerala

1. Visit the official homepage of SPARK Kerala.
2. Enter your user code, password, and captcha and click on ‘Sign In.’
3. Click on the ‘Salary Matters’ 3rd option in the navigation bar.
4. Select ‘Changes in the month’ from the drop-down menu.
5. Select ‘LPC entry’ from the drop-down menu.
6. Fill in the details (like name, LPC number, date, monthly rate, DA, etc) and click on ‘Confirm.’
7. Recheck the details and click on ‘Confirm.’

How to access SPARK Kerala’s app

1. Download the ‘SPARK Kerala onMobile’ app from the Google Play Store on the Apple Play Store.
2. Install the application on your device.
3. Enter your PEN and mobile number and click on ‘Get Started.’
4. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and click on ‘Continue.’
5. You’ll be redirected to the homepage.
6. Choose the desired services (like Leave management, Outside duty, Compensatory Off, salary).)

How to Apply leave via SPARK Kerala’s app

1. Download the ‘SPARK Kerala onMobile’ app from the Google Play Store on the Apple Play Store.
2. Install the application on your device.
3. Enter your PEN and mobile number and click on ‘Get Started.’
4. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and click on ‘Continue.’
5. You’ll be redirected to the homepage.
6. Click on the ‘Leave Management’ option.
7. Select the type of leave, leave period, and reason, and click on the ‘Submit’ button.

How to view salary details via SPARK Kerala’s app

1. Download ‘SPARK Kerala onMobile’ app from the Google Play Store on the Apple Play Store.
2. Install the application on your device.
3. Enter your PEN and mobile number and click on ‘Get Started.’
4. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and click on ‘Continue.’
5. You’ll be redirected to the homepage.
6. Click on the ‘Salary’ option.
7. To view your salary details, select the year and month according to your preference.
8. Click on the ‘View’ button.
9. You’ll see the details on your screen.

Vision and Objective of SPARK Kerala

• This system would deal with all administrative, payroll, and accounts matters in government organizations.
  
  
• A computer-based centralized integrated system would enable quick retrieval of any information regarding an employee by a department, making the system more transparent and enforcing the equal application of rules to all employees.
  
  
• All modifications carried out at one place would reflect automatically at other relevant places.
  
  
• It is ensured that payrolls are accurate and automated.
  
  
• Rules and regulations would be implemented equally upon each employee.
  
  
• It reduces complaints and improves employee relations.
  
  

Conclusion

SPARK Kerala has transformed how the Kerala government deals with employee records, payroll, and services. That which required manual effort is now automated, saves time, and gives accuracy. The features include leave management, salary processing, and easy access to employee data, thereby bringing efficiency and transparency to the operations of the government. 

Tasks such as salary slips, leave applications, and property returns are all easy to manage. The dedicated help desk supporting SPARK Kerala adds to the total experience of governmental staff. It not only streamlines processes but also strengthens employee relationships and eliminates biases.

FAQs related to SPARK Kerala

Q1: Can I apply for a transfer through SPARK Kerala?

Yes, SPARK Kerala includes a General Transfer Application module for government employees to apply for transfers within departments.

Q2: What is the PEN number in SPARK Kerala?

The Personal Education Number (PEN) in Kerala is a unique identification number assigned to every government employee, particularly in the education sector. It helps in managing and tracking various employee-related data across multiple platforms.

Q3: How do I register a new employee in SPARK Kerala?

A new employee is registered by the concerned DDO (Drawing and Disbursing Officer), Head of the Department.

Q4: How do I cancel my SPARK Kerala subscription?

To cancel your SPARK Kerala subscription, go to the "My Membership" section in the mobile app. From there, you can change or deactivate your subscription plan. If you're on the SPARK Kerala Pro plan, periodic payments will be charged to your payment card, but you can cancel your subscription at any time and switch to a different plan.

Q5: Can SPARK Kerala deactivate my account?

Yes, SPARK Kerala can deactivate accounts if certain conditions are met. For instance, if a driver’s rating drops below a set threshold, their account may be automatically deactivated. Additionally, complaints about rude or unacceptable behaviour from the driver may lead tothe  immediate deactivation of the account.

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