Idrees Bukhtiyar
Srinagar, May 24: A delegation of employees from the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Kashmir has alleged that they are facing mental harassment and administrative neglect due to the non-extension of service benefits and prolonged delays in promotions and departmental procedures.
The employees told Rising Kashmir that they are under “deep depression” as several genuine service-related issues have remained unresolved for years. They alleged that the department has failed to provide benefits such as in-situ promotions, sanctioning of leave, sanction of General Provident Fund (GPF) cases, and SRO-related cases.
“We have been mentally tortured by the department for years. Employees are suffering because even basic service benefits are being denied,” a member of the delegation said.
The delegation claimed that no Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting has been conducted in the last 20 years, leaving hundreds of employees without career progression.
“Many employees have completed more than two decades in service, but they have not received promotions or other benefits. This has badly affected the morale of the workforce,” another employee said.
The employees further alleged that several officials are retiring without receiving pensionary and retirement benefits.
“It is unfortunate that retired employees are returning home empty-handed without pension or other retirement dues. This reflects the apathy of the department towards its workforce,” the delegation said.
They also pointed out that numerous posts in the department are lying vacant, affecting the functioning of Urban Local Bodies across Kashmir. According to the employees, vacant positions include Executive Officers, Senior Revenue Officers, Sanitation Officers, Secretaries, Enforcement Officers, Sanitary Inspectors, Enforcement Inspectors, and Tax Inspectors.
“The department is facing a severe shortage of staff, but vacant posts are not being filled. This is hampering administrative work and putting additional pressure on existing employees,” they said.
The delegation also raised concerns over the transfer policy implemented in the department for the first time in 25 years, alleging that employees have not been given adequate benefits despite serving for decades.
“The sanitary staff is the worst affected, as the entire department relies on them. The Jammu office of the department is functioning smoothly but it is only the Kashmir office where things have gone wrong,” they said.
The employees appealed to the authorities to address their grievances on priority and ensure that pending promotions, retirement benefits, and vacant posts are resolved at the earliest.
Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Qazi Sarwar told Rising Kashmir that the employees had been appointed illegally. “That is why no benefits are being provided to them. In fact, the matter is under investigation, and we are also awaiting the Crime Branch’s final FIR report,” he said.