Srinagar, June 5, KDC: Hundreds of employees in the Agriculture Department of Jammu and Kashmir face a worried Eid-ul-Azha as a bureaucracy remains unpaid for more than a month due to a bureaucracy logging.
Employees told the Srinagar-based news-active agency Kashmir.com that the recent transfer orders issued by the Department of Agriculture Production (APD) have left more than 20 major offices, which bring to grind the pay disbursement without drawing and dysberting officers (DDOS).
The affected offices include District Agricultural Officer (Extension) Pulwama, Assistant Director of Vegetables (Pulwama), Assistant Director of Vegetables (Anantnag), Agriculture Officer of Sub-Division, Achabal, Sub-division Agricultural Officer Basoli, Agricultural Subordinate Training Institute along with 17 other important officials along with DDO appointments.
The affected employees, from field staff to office personnel, are struggling to end before the festive season. “Eid is a time of happiness, but how can we celebrate when our salary gets stuck?” Asked Pulwama to a distressed employee. “We are patient, but the administration’s silence is deaf.”
Despite repeated appeal, the authorities have given little assurance. When contacted for the comment, the Director of Agriculture and Principal Secretary of APD remained unavailable, citing prior busyness in meetings.
“It’s not just about delay – it’s about livelihood,” said a senior employee in Anantnag. “Many of us rely on Eid advances to cover expenses. Now, we are leaving borrowings to apply food on the table.”
Due to no resolution in the sight, frustration between employees is increasing, which accuse the apathy department. “The transfer occurs every year, but why the replacement was not ready?” Another employee questioned. “At least they could issue temporary orders, so we are not punished for their laps.”
As near the festival, the only certainty for these employees is uncertain and an Eid is overseen from empty pockets. (KDC)