Mehta, Sarmad take stock of public grievances

FC Finance and Secretary Sports interacting with delegation.
FC Finance and Secretary Sports interacting with delegation.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 10: Financial Commissioner, Finance, AK Mehta and Secretary, Youth Service and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, today took stock of people’s grievances during a day-long public grievance camp held at Banquet Hall here.
During the programme, a large number of deputations and individuals including, Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian among other areas met the Administrative Secretaries and highlighted their issues.
During the camp several service matter cases were also taken up. The deputations sought an early redress from the Government.
A deputation of casual labourers from Department of Forest apprised the Administrative Secretaries about their issues, seeking regularization of their services.
A deputation of Junior Engineers apprised the officials about their demands, to which they were assured that all their genuine demands would be addressed within two months.
A deputation of Lecturers, Physical Education, Department, briefed the Administrative Secretaries about the rectification or up-gradation of grade pay, saying that they were appointed as Lecturer Physical Education.
They demanded that the issue of their pay anomalies should be addressed on priority.
Deputations of Contractors, working across Jammu and Kashmir on Government tendered projects called upon the Administrative Secretaries, urging Financial Commissioner to look into their grievances and release their pending dues.
The Financial Commissioner assured them that all their authorized payments would be released and contractors won’t face any issue in carrying out their works. He asked the contractors that all the works would be allotted after completing the requisite formalities including, tendering and authorized allotment from the Government.
He asked the contractors that Government advertises requirement on GeM portal for procurement of goods and services, asking them to follow the formalities.
A deputation of Kashmir Industrial Revival and Development Forum apprised the officials about their issues. Several delegations and individuals briefed Mehta about the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, urging the Government to streamline the bank for the greater good of the general public. Mehta assured the delegations that the J&K Bank was doing better at present and people must hail their services.
A young woman Rugby athlete called on the officials, urging them to work for the promotion of the sport in Jammu and Kashmir. She said that she was coaching young girl athletes, demanding all possible help from the Government.
A delegation of Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYC) volunteers called on the officials, urging them to regularise their services.
A deputation of casual Labourers from Horticulture Department demanded that their wages be released soon.
Various individuals also highlighted their issues including compensation, subsidy under several centrally sponsored schemes in Agriculture and Horticulture Departments.
Mehta told people that Government was taking all measures for strengthening the infrastructural edifice besides ensuring better basic needs to people of Jammu and Kashmir. He assured the people that the Government is endeavouring hard to solve all development related issues of every area.
In a separate meeting with PHD Chamber of Commerce (Kashmir Chapter) Mehta discussed several issues threadbare and assured all their genuine demands would be taken up on priority. He said that Government was keen to provide them window which would help them to streamline their businesses.