*Populace of rural areas being subjected to inconvenience
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: Putting vast population of rural areas to inconvenience, 79 Community Development (CD) blocks of the Rural Development Department are functioning on adhoc arrangement because of dilly-dallying approach of the General Administration Department (GAD) in filling the vacant posts of the Block Development Officers (BDOs).
Moreover, 175 CD block don’t have their own infrastructure and are functioning either from the Panchayat Ghars or rented accommodation during the past quite long time.
According to the official figures, seven CD blocks of Anantnag district, three of Budgam, five of Bandipora, 11 of Baramulla, five of Kargil, three of Kulgam, seven of Kupwara, eight of Leh, two of Pulwama, four of Shopian, two of Jammu, one of Kathua, three of Rajouri, five of Poonch, one of Reasi, six of Kishtwar and three each of Ramban and Doda districts don’t have full time Block Development Officers (BDOs).
Due to this, the BDOs of the adjoining blocks have been given the charge of these 79 blocks thereby creating problems for the masses of rural areas in getting different Government services conveniently. The people are compelled to travel huge distance to approach the BDOs holding additional charge of their blocks to get their issues resolved.
Worst is the situation in Doda, Kishtwar, Leh, Kargil, Rajouri, Poonch and Kupwara districts where poor road-connectivity is also compounding the difficulties being faced by the people in approaching the BDOs.
While revealing the information vis-à-vis vacant posts of BDOs in reply to the question of PDP MLA Javid Hassan Beig in the Legislative Assembly, the Rural Development Minister said, “at present 79 posts of BDOs under direct recruitment quota are vacant and the same have already been referred to the General Administration Department for filling the same from amongst the Junior KAS officers”.
“There are also number of vacancies available in promotion quota which could not be filled up due to non-eligible officials-Panchayat Inspector Grade-I as per the recruitment rules in vogue from the feeding services”, the Minister said. He, however, claimed that in order to mitigate the problems of rural populace and also to run blocks smoothly the department has assigned the charge of these vacant blocks to the adjacent BDOs.
The House was also informed that 127 CD blocks are operating from Panchayat Ghars and 48 on rented accommodation. This has established that no serious attention has been paid towards providing sufficient infrastructure and manpower to the CD blocks.
The Minister claimed that department has provided 70% staff under ministerial cadre to the CD blocks. “The remaining 30% posts are required to be filled up by deputation from other departments like Planning and Finance and the matter has been taken up with these departments”, he added.
It was also informed that department has made a proposal for creation of posts of Panchayat Inspectors for the newly created CD blocks which is under consideration in the Finance Department.
When asked about the reasons for non-engagement of Junior Engineers in Rural Development Department through separate wing as has been established and headed by SEs at divisional level, the Minister said, “in terms of Government Order No.150-RD of 2003 dated June 25, 2003 based on Cabinet Decision No.111/8 dated June 23, 2003, the department is allowed to develop and manage a limited cadre of Rural Engineering Wing to the extent of 50% promotion posts only till the present incumbents retire”.
Stating that no fresh recruitment of engineers at any level either by transfer or by direct recruitment will be made, the Minister said that the remaining 50% posts will be filled by deputation from Public Works Department”, adding “when the present incumbents of Rural Engineering Service shall retire, the cadre shall be managed 100% by deputation from PWD”.
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