| SBM scheme ends, JK yet to release salaries of employees | | |
Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, April 11: Before closing the Saakshar Bharat Mission (SBM) two weeks ago, the Union government had released salaries of people employed under the scheme. The J&K government, however, is yet to release the salary to the employees.
Riyaz-ul-Haq Shah, an erstwhile SBM employee, informed Early Times that the government of India released Rs 18.14 crore for salary of 6,000 employees in mid of March 2018 before closing the scheme. But till date the department concerned has failed to release the salary to the employees for unknown reasons.
'The centrally-sponsored scheme run by the J&K School Education Department was launched in the state in 2011 for promotion of adult education and literacy. It was closed after nearly seven years by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of School Education and Literacy", Riyaz said.
He said that the official of the department concerned hadn't submitted Utilization Certificate to the Union government from time to time due to which they blocked salary of employees. However, the wages given to the employees do not meet up with their needs. We are working on a meager salary of Rs 2000 per month which stills a liability to the state government.
"The salary is not sufficient for our needs and also if you go through the Minimum Wages Act, you will find that it's not enough. Around 40 months' salary is yet to be given by the department concerned", another employee said.
The employees engaged under the scheme have given representation to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in mid of 2017 regarding formulation of job policy. At that time she directed Secretary to the government, School Education Department to examine the matter and take appropriate action. Instead of formulation a job policy, the department has taken a decision to close the scheme.
"Many times we approached the higher authority of School Education Department regarding pending salary. The officials gave lame excuse and said that the Union government didn't release funds, but now the Union government has released funds for employees, so why they don't release it?" the employees asked.
Secretary School Education Department and Mission Director SBM, Farooq Ahmad Shah was not available for comments. |
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