Srinagar, Oct 16 (KNS): The People’s Conference leader and District Development Council Chairperson, Safeena Beigh on Saturday wrote to Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha about the long pending issues of MGNREGA employees regarding the post vacancies in the RDD and PR departments.
The letter, a copy of which lies with Kashmir News Service (KNS) reads that the association approached the concerned department and the state government several times with respect to the future and career of almost 4000 employees working under the scheme constituted a committee vide Government Order No. 169 RD& PR of 2018, Dated: 07/07/2018 to examine for a decade.
The department finally recognized the significance and essence of MGNREGA employees and long pending HRD issues of staff engaged under MGNREG. Instructions regarding amendment in subordinate service recruitment rules were also issued through the same order. The said order was issued in continuation to Government Order No: 344 RD&PR of 2017, dated 28/12/2017, it reads
Whereas, the Director Rural Development Department Jammu drafted and submitted a proposal for amendment in J&K RDD subordinate service rules vide Letter No: Estt/19207, Dated 14/08/2018, it continues.
The letter reads that the draft proposal for amendment in non-gazetted rules prepared by their office had been discussed at length. The draft was supposed to be considered by the administrative department for further course of action.
“The Department prepared a road map for absorption of MGNREGA staff against suitable available vacancies from the quota notified for direct recruitment and approved by the department of RD&PR with the consent of Honourable K. Suknandan then Advisor to the Honourable Governor,” it says.
The file was submitted to the Department of Law justice & parliamentary affairs under the receipt number (LD(opn)2019/210 RDD, Dated 08/11/2019 and approved after proper scrutiny. The Finance Department also received the file for approval under receipt no A/61(02)-I-C-1130 Dated:08-11-2019 but sent back to RD&PR vide NO A/61(02)-I-C Dated: 21-01-2020 to provide amended subordinate service recruitment rules for the absorption of MGNREGA Staff in the Department of RD&PR.
However, the concern of Finance Department has not been addressed yet and hence the file is left unattended for a quite long time now, highlights the letter.
“The standing committee constituted by GAD held a meeting on 4th of August 2021 and sought preparation of draft recruitment rules for gazetted and non-gazetted services of rural development department and we demand amendment may also be for inclusion of MGNREGA staff in the department of RD&PR.”
It reads that the Director RDD Kashmir framed a draft proposal for enhancement of monthly remuneration of MGNREGA support staff in August 2018 vide communication no. DRDK/Estu/26063 dated 28/08/2018/, it reads.
September 2020 vide communication no DRDK/Estt/46920, dated 9/9/2020 and August 2021 vide no DRDK/Estt/ 5456-58 Dated 17-08-2021 and submitted the same to the Secretary/Principal Secretary to the Government to Government, Department of Rural Development & PR J&K civil secretariat Srinagar.
It reads that the draft was supposed to be considered by the Department of RD & PR for further course of action but the proposal is still pending for approval.
“Keeping the above specifics into your benevolent consideration, your Excellency is implored to kindly consider the above specified facts, enhancement in remuneration and absorb the highly qualified and incredibly skilled employees working under MGNREGA in the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, so that the future and career of thousands of employees is reshaped. “
It reads that the file no RDD & PR/Adm/85 of 2018, Dated 24/10/2019 may kindly be processed further to pave the way for absorption of employees working under MGNREGA for almost 13 years.(KNS)