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| Patriotic Fervour, Festivities fail to bring salaries for staff | | | Early Times Special
JAMMU, August 14: August was keenly awaited in Jammu and Kashmir as a month of patriotic fervor, religious festivals and time for realization of long standing commitments –particularly salaries and other dues of employees. On the eve of Independence Day, half of the month is over but commitments are yet to be met.
On August 5, it was Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi, a Hindu festival celebrated across India as a day which marks the eternal love between brothers and sisters. As part of the festivities, sisters tie a sacred thread around the wrist on the right arm of their brothers after pooja in an auspicious muhurat.
In turn, brothers solemnly pledge to protect the sisters throughout their lives. Sweets are prepared at homes and then shared with relatives and neighbours. Kite flying has become an integral part of the revelries for the last several decades on this occasion.
This is not all as sisters and brothers also exchange gifts. Sisters usually give gifts to brothers only if they are much younger. Otherwise, it is considered the duty of the brothers to shower the sisters with gifts and gifts cost money.
Many brothers, particularly those in the government service, could not give gifts to their sisters on Rakhi this year because they had not received their salaries. To compound their miseries, the schools had just opened on August 3, two days prior to Rakhi, and the school fees and transport charges had also to be paid.
Of course, within two months of summer vacations, prices of all commodities have skyrocketed. Sugar price has risen from Rs 23 per kg to Rs 36 per kg in this period and this has left a bitter taste in the mouths of toiling masses.
Since the government staff had not got their salaries, they did not have the ready cash to splurge and indulge. This meant that shopkeepers also did not get many customers and it hit their incomes.
Overall, Raksha Bandhan then was just not the same, a festival marked by jovial brothers and sisters, as also their parents. To use a cliché, it was a damp squib. The government has not overtly disowned responsibility for failure to disburse the salaries on time. It just turned a blind eye towards the fact.
The Governor, Mr N N Vohra, the Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Tara Chand, and their other ministerial colleagues duly greeted the citizens on Raksha Bandhan. But none of them had the time to attend to the problems being faced by the employees due to non-disbursal of salaries.
Incidentally, the salaries of the decision-makers, whether they be legislators, including ministers, IAS and most KAS officers, were transferred into their bank respective accounts on due date. On the last day of July itself, according to treasury officials, who said that this happens almost automatically.
Be it summer, winter or the rainy season. Be it a recession, inflation or a pandemic, the protocols for payments to the decision-makers are robust and never fail them, the treasury officials clarified.
Come August 14 and it was the birthday of Lord Krishna of Gokul-Mathura fame, another important day in the Hindu religious calendar. Across the state, things did not change for the government staff as salaries have still not been disbursed to them.
Janamasthtami is traditionally celebrated by fasting which lasts till midnight. A large number of those who do not fast during the day, observe fasting in a slightly different manner. They take only fruits or vegetables and desist from taking grains throughout the day.
The observance of fasting in this manner also was a touch choice as the prices of fruits and vegetables are riding high and constantly remind ordinary mortals of the Gods in heavens.
Good quality bananas were available only at Rs 50 per dozen or costlier. The humble papaya was ruling at Rs 30 per kg, with ordinary apple varieties firm at Rs 60 per kg, potatoes at Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg, and tomatoes at Rs 25 per kg. Mangoes were available only at Rs 80 per kg or more.
By the way, this list is meant to be illustrative, to indicate how almost everything is beyond the masses. These goods remained out of reach of the ordinary mortals called government employees for the second successive festival of Janamashtami also, with almost half the month gone already.
The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) ministry failed to make any arrangements for distributing additional sugar quota at subsidized rates for those getting rations from its shops.
Of course, again, on the eve of Janamashtami, on August 13, just as had happened on Raksha Bandhan, congratulatory messages started pouring in from ministers and high officials.
They were just words, devoid of any deep meaning and remained just so as they failed to ensure the payment of salaries to the employees. Mere empty words.
By the time this write-up reaches the readers, it will be Independence Day, another festival.
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