Bilal Rahmani

Bandipora (J-K), May 3(KNS): Residents of the remote Gurez Valley have complained of hardships due to the absence of government employees from offices on Saturdays, alleging that the practice has disrupted access to essential services.

Locals said that although Sunday is the officially designated weekly off, many employees posted in the valley leave for their homes on Fridays, leaving offices locked on Saturdays.

“When questioned, officials often say they are in the field. But routine closure of offices on Saturdays affects people who travel long distances for basic services,” a resident said.

People from far-flung areas such as Checkwali said they spend hours navigating difficult terrain to reach offices, only to find them closed.

“If someone arrives on Saturday and finds the office locked, it is a waste of time, money and effort,” another resident said.

Residents questioned why an “unofficial holiday” on Saturdays has become a norm despite government rules permitting only Sunday as a weekly off, terming it discriminatory towards those living in the remote valley.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

They said many families who could afford to relocate have moved to towns like Bandipora, Ganderbal, Baramulla and Srinagar for better access to services.

Residents also flagged an acute shortage of staff in several departments. The forest department, they said, has only about 14 employees, including a few daily wagers, to manage the vast forest area, while the social welfare department has just three staff members for the entire valley.

They urged the administration to enforce attendance, ensure adherence to official working days and address staff shortages, warning that continued inaction would further widen the gap between Gurez and other parts of the district.(KNS).