Srinagar June 20 (KNS): Apni Party State Secretary and Vice-Chairman Handloom Development Corporation (HDC) Muntazir Mohi-ud-Din on Monday strongly urged the administration to regularize the Community Information Centre (CIC) operators of the Rural Development Department (RDD). He expressed his deep concern over the lingering issues of these CICs even though an Empowered Committee of J&K Government headed by Principal Secretary, Department of Finance cleared their regularization cases one by one for regularization under J&K Civil Services (Special Provision) Act 2010 in its two meetings.

In a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Muntazir Mohi-ud-Din has said, “When we talk of the issues related to the CIC operators of RDD, we must keep in mind that these are not any back door entries. They have been recruited through a proper recruitment procedure and based on merit in 2004. Also, we must consider the fact that following a cabinet order to formulate a proposal for the regularization of CIC Operators in the RDD, an Empowered Committee headed by the Principal Secretary, the Department of Finance cleared their regularization and communicated their recommendations to the department for issuance of formal regularization order, which is yet to be issued.”

 Expressing his displeasure over the delay tactics by the government to keep the issues of these workers lingering, Muntazir said, “They are waiting for Justice for the last two decades. They have been facing a lot of miseries and mental anxieties due to apathy of the Administration.”

 “Imagine, these CIC operators are forced to work on a meager amount of Rs 10’000 a month. What would they have been facing in these times of inflation? They are highly qualified and have degrees from various courses such as MTech, MCA, M.Sc, IT, B.E & B.Tech, and so on. The government ought to resolve the issue of these employees who have been giving their blood and sweat while performing their duties for about the past two decades. Besides all other office assignments related to elections, establishment, accounts, works, etc. at the Block, District, Directorate, and Secretariat levels, these CIC operators have been efficiently handling more than 26 web portals of the RDD & Panchayati Raj on a daily basis.” He said.

 In the statement, the Apni Party leader has urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene personally in the matter to ensure CIC operators of RDD are given justice.

 He said, “I urge Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha Ji to intervene personally in the matter and provide justice to these CIC Operators, who are suffering very badly for the last 18 years.”(KNS)