MIR ARIF
Barmulla: Scores of Gram Rozgar Sevaks (GRS) engaged in Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme in north
Kashmir’s Baramulla district have expressed strong resentment over inordinate delay in releasing their monthly remunerations from the past several months. GRS employees were engaged under Rural Development Department for supervision of various works under NREGA scheme but according to these Rozgar Sevaks, ‘the NREGA have not been paid their salaries from the last several months’. A delegation of these aggrieved Rozgar Sevaks told Kashmir Scenario, “They are suffering deficiently as they have not been paid their wages from the past five months.”
“We are facing tough times in absence of salaries. We are moving from pillar to post to get or salaries released as some works supervisors have been given additional charge to work as Nrega assistants and they deliberately use our salary to clear bills of contractors to mint hefty commission from them Government seems to in deep slumber,” they said. “How can we attend our duties when we don’t have travel fare in our pockets? Instead of redressing our grievances, government is subjecting us to hardships,” they added. “Our families are starving. We demand immediate release of pending salaries. If government doesn’t release our salaries we would not hesitate to come on the roads,” a GRS wishing anonymity said. It is pertinent to mention that Commissioner Secretary for Rural development has issued a circular No:ACDA/ESTT/2013-14/11953-60 Dated:1/11/2013 in which it was clearly stated that the salary to the MGNREGA staff should be paid monthly and delay in salary to the staff should be viewed as a contravention of MGNREGA and action under section 25 of the Act shall be initiated against the concerned Block Development officer/programe officer/concerned Additional commissioner Development/District Coordinators responsible for delay in payment of salary to supporting staff. Talking to Kashmir Scenario, one of the from block Rohama Rafiabad said our salary is utilized to clear bills of contractors in order to mint commission from them and we are being told that only 4 % of funds can be used for our salaries which is a contravention also to the circular issued by commissioner Secretary told a Gram Rozgar sewak from block Rohama Rafiabad.
Pertinent to mention here that these Graham Rozgar Sevaks (GRS) were engaged for the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the State Government recruits Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS) through BDO. These are engaged in different Panchayat Halqas on merit basis and some others also alleged that some works supervisors have been given charge to work as NREGA Assistants who utilize salary to clear bills of contactors to mint commission from them and deliberately delay our salaries.
When contacted Director Rural development and panchayati Raj Mr Mir Altaf Ahmad told that “I will look into the matter that why the salary is not being paid monthly and also sometimes due to non availability of funds the release of salary gets delayed and as far as question of not Implementing of circular issued by commissioner secretary is concerned strict action will be taken against officials who doesn’t implement the circular issued by Commissioner Secretary and nobody will be allowed to violate rules”.