Aatif Qayoom
Kupwara, May 18: In a big administrative action, the Office of the Assistant Commissioner Development Kupwara has withheld the salaries and honorariums of several Block Development Officers, Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and other field functionaries over “persistently poor and non serious performance” under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
According to an official order issued by Assistant Commissioner Development Kupwara Abdul Rashid Ganaie, the implementation of MGNREGA requires effective planning, timely execution of works, continuous field monitoring, demand registration and achievement of approved labour budget targets by Block Development Officers and field level functionaries.
The order stated that a detailed review of MGNREGA performance in Kupwara district during the first quarter of financial year 2026-27 revealed “extremely poor and unsatisfactory achievement” in generation of persondays against assigned targets, which seriously affected the overall performance of the district.
Authorities said that despite repeated instructions, review meetings, strict directions and continuous monitoring aimed at speeding up developmental works and enhancing employment generation, the concerned officers failed to show any tangible improvement and instead displayed gross negligence, lack of seriousness and non compliance towards official duties.
The administration further observed that the persistently poor performance reflected complete failure of supervision, monitoring and field level implementation on the part of the concerned officials, adversely affecting achievement of targets under the rural employment scheme.
The order noted that sufficient opportunities and adequate time had already been provided to the officers for improvement in performance, but no substantial progress was achieved, forcing the department to initiate strict administrative action in the interest of effective implementation of the scheme.
As part of the action, the salaries and honorariums of Block Development Officers posted in Drugmulla, Handwara, Qaziabad, Herri Qadirabad, Kralpora, Kupwara, Hyhama, Langate, Kalaroose, Machil, Wavoora, Sogam, Keran, Meelyal, Rajwar, Mawer, Magam, Ramhal, Tarathpora, Tangdar, Teetwal and Trehgam have been withheld with immediate effect till further orders. The order also applies to all Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and other field functionaries working under their administrative control.
The administration directed all BDOs to ensure substantial improvement within the shortest possible time and warned that strict disciplinary action, including recommendation for attachment or termination of defaulting officials, would be initiated under rules in force if performance does not improve.