Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 24: Grass roots employees working for the “effective implementation” of 73rd and 74th Amendment Act accused Government of leaving them at crossroads for failing to draft a job policy in their favor.
The employees lamented that although the Government is boasting about empowerment of local governance, grass roots workers who are diligently working for successful implementation of various schemes meant for strengthening the Panchayat Raj institutions have been left in lurch in absence of a job policy.
They said they have been diligently working for the implementation of these schemes and sacrificed prime of their age for it. “We want Government to absorb us in parent departments as most of us have crossed the standard age limit and cannot apply for new posts. We are hopeful that the present administration will end our pain and agony. So far, our woes went unheard. We are unsure about our future and it is denting our psyche,” Razia Malik, an employee working with PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Avas Yojna) said.
Apart from PMAY, these employees are working with other schemes including MGNREGA, Housing For All, and Urban Livelihood Mission etcetera. These schemes are aimed at strengthening and development of various facets of local governance and would ultimately help in strengthening the democratic set up at grass roots level.
“Despite Government’s claims regarding strengthening of 73rd and 74th Amendment Act employees working for the successful implementation of various programs meant for decentralization and local governance have been left with uncertain future,” Showkat Ahmad, an employees working with MGNREGA said.
He added that the employees are working for last 5-7 years with dedication and devotion and their work has been acknowledged by the authorities concerned. For example, he said, Under MGNREGA Jammu and Kashmir recently bags four national awards for its performance in Gram Panchayat.
These employees are holding key positions like Block Program Managers, Social Auditors, GRS (Gram Rozgar Sevaks), Computer Operators etc. These positions are vital for meeting the public expectations at the grass roots level. “We are performing our duties from data collection to implementation of various works which are meant for the progress of rural people. Without us it would be impossible to achieve,” Faheem Iqbal, Block Program Manager said.
Another employees said recently concluded phase second of Back to Village program was also possible because of them. “All the data related to the program including identification of developmental works and involvement of local communities living in remote areas were possible because of us,” he said.
Likewise, employees working with various schemes falling under urban local self-governance are equally worried about their future. These employees also hold important designations like Project Engineers, Town Planners, GIS and MIS experts, Social Development and Capacity Building experts in different departments of Urban Local Governance.
There are around 80-Muncipal Committees including six municipal councils (Rajouri, Kathua, Udampur, Sopore, Baramulla, Anantnag) and two municipal corporations (SMC and JMC) where these employees are performing their duties in collaboration with these institutions. Besides, they play a key role in ensuring public participation which is necessary for achieving the goals of development.
The employees said that last PDP-BJP government has issued a circular regarding a 25% reservations against the available vacancies in rural development department in 2018 for MGNREGA employees. “Till date no headways has been made on it,” Firdous Ahmad, GRS Bandipora.
Last time Central Government announced smart city projects for Srinagar and Jammu. Besides, both cities have been given metropolitan status which would need trained workforce.”There are various vacancies in different branches falling under housing and urban development like JDA, SDA, LAWDA, housing, Urban local bodies and town planning etc. where we can be absorbed as we possess required qualification and experience,” Faisal Bhat, Technical Experts.
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