WE THE PEOPLE
Eighteen Officials Remained Attached with SWD of Jammu Directorate for 33 Months and drew Salary of Rs. 32 lakh
Hence People demand Probe for such huge Salaries without assigning any Work to Them
By: MNS/M. Shirjeel
Srinagar: We have stated in our last Series that many irregularities stand committed in the Social Welfare Department, which otherwise is responsible for implementation of various developmental schemes, especially those relating to women, children, SC/ST/OBC population and social justice empowerment. But scrutiny of records of the Department has brought out glaring gaps in planning, financial management and programme management. Due to non-availability of baseline data and non-disbursement of assistance to the beneficiaries in time, the unspent balances have increased over a period of time.
Further, scrutiny of records has revealed that in Doda: Rs. 3.45 crore; Jammu: Rs. 4.79 lakh; Kathua: Rs. 5.14 lakh; Poonch: Rs. 0.77 lakh and Udhampur: Rs. 3.50 lakh stand received back from banks as unclaimed amount that was lying with five TSWOs in their bank accounts as of March 2009. No steps had been taken to scrutinize the merits of each case recommended in order to facilitate remittance/refund of these unclaimed amounts.
The State Government introduced (2004-05) the Contributory Social Security Scheme (CSSS) for marginal workers in the age group of 20 to 50 years. The workers are to be covered by providing them Social Security of Rs. 100 per month for a period of 10 years, provided income of the beneficiary from all sources does not exceed Rs. 30,000 per annum. Matching contribution is also required to be paid by the beneficiary and both contributions are to be deposited in a Bank for a period of 10 years during which no withdrawal is allowed except in case of death of the beneficiary. After 10 years, the beneficiary has an option to either withdraw the amount or opt of a pension scheme to be evolved by the Bank.
But the extremely low percentages of achievement indicate dismal performance of the scheme in the State. Projections have not been based on any survey through which the actual number of beneficiaries could be identified. As a result, there have been huge unspent balances, at the close of each year. Further, the Department could disburse only Rs. 1.18 lakh to the beneficiaries during 2005-09. The DSWOs have attributed the poor utilization of funds to non-conducting of enrolment, incomplete submission of application forms and non-contribution of matching share by the beneficiaries.
It has also been seen that there was nothing on record to show that the Jammu and Kashmir Bank has evolved any scheme for payment of pension as envisaged. Although the scheme was successful in Pulwama District, it was not implemented in other districts of Kashmir Division except for Baramulla and Kupwara. The Director Kashmir has stated that due to poor response from marginal workers, the scheme could not be implemented as envisaged. The Department had not conducted any exercise to identify the defaulting beneficiaries who had stopped contributing. Action taken to have the money lying in the Bank accounts of the defaulters transferred to the Government account was not intimated.
Eighteen officials, including 10 CDPOs, remained attached with Jammu Directorate for periods ranging from two to 33 months in addition to the regular strength, during 2007-09. Their services were not utilized gainfully for the purpose for which they had been appointed. The salaries of these officials were reimbursed 100 per cent by the Government of India (GOI) under ICDS sector. The Department had paid Rs. 32 lakh as salary to these officials for the periods of attachment up to March 2009 without assigning any work. (To be continued)
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