Employees say department has become hub of corruption
Srinagar, June 02: In yet another example of official apathy, the officials in Fire and Emergency Services Department are allegedly staging crisis of employees by allowing firemen to sit at home without leave and in turn get a certain share of salary.
The employees alleged that dozens of “blue eyed” employees including firemen, drivers and other officials “have been” allowed to sit at home without any legal leave but bribe the officers in District offices.
“The officers take a certain percentage of the salary of those who are not attending offices and are shown present in the department,” they alleged.
However, the Director Fire Services Department, Engineer R S Sodhi told KNS that this is not possible as Aadhar-based biometric attendance system is used in the department.
“We have installed biometric attendance system and it is not possible for any employee to remain absent from duty and then he can mark himself present,” the director said.
However employees rebutted the claims of Director and said the director may be talking about the Headquarters but there is no biometric attendance in any station. “Tell him to show one station with biometric attendance?”. They alleged.
The employees said that the fire fighting capacity has been affected as very less number of fire fighters is available with the department.
Officials alleged that the department is already facing shortage of man-power as no new recruitment has been done.
“Firemen who have no knowledge of accounts are deputed in office in lieu of money just to be away from fire fighting operation,” they alleged.
Sodhi said no such complaint has come to his office about any such allegations. “May be , it is internal rivalry between employees groups. No such complaint has come to my knowledge,” the director said.
“If any employee has any evidence he should come to my office,” he said.(KNS)