Neyaz Elahi
Employees posted at Zainapora Block of South Kashmir’s Shopian district are without salaries from past 4 months.
The employees held a protest urging authorities to give disbursing powers to Block Development Officer who according to protesting employees is ornamental head of the Block.
After remaining headless for over a month, Zainapora Block got a new BDO for a day. After assuming charge, the new BDO was transferred on the very next day much disappointment to the people.
Few months ago Block Development Officer for Block Zainapora-Tariq Ahmed Paddar was transferred. The Block remained headless for over a month. After over a month, a new BDO Tariq Ahmed Malik was posted but to their utter shock, he was transferred the very next day.
The protesting employees told news agency that on the directions of DC Shopian a BDO Shoib Aslam was posted in the Block but Treasury doesn’t own him on the grounds that government has not posted him formally.
“The incumbent BDO is toothless who lacks disbursing power. We are without salaries from past 5 months. The dejected BDO recently left the Block and returned back after a month. Not only employees are suffering but common people have stopped now visiting the Block as no work gets done,” they said.
“We don’t understand the policies of the Rural and Development Department. Scores of Blocks including our Block are headless. People and employees in absence of any authority face hardships,” the protesting employees said.
When contacted, Director Rural and Development Department Tariq Ahmed Zargar told that Treasury was not honouring the signatures of incumbent BDO as he has been given additional charge by concerned Deputy Commissioner. “After coming into my notice, I have settled this issue and directed Treasury to accept and honour the signatures of Zainapora Block BDO,” he said adding that salaries of employees will be released shortly. (KNT)
