No salary since 40 months for Housing nodal officers!

Puttur: On one side, the process of providing shelter to the terrified victims of the natural disaster here is getting delayed and on the other, the housing nodal officers working on the taluk and district level, appointed with the aim to provide shelter to everyone in the district have themselves not received any salary since 40 months! The state government, which should provide immediate solution to the problem is however, looking in the opposite direction.

206 housing officials

In 2010 – 11, Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation decided to appoint housing nodal officers at all TPs on contract bases. Accordingly, the eligible were selected after undergoing the prescribed examination and interview. Altogether, 206 housing nodal officers including 176 on the taluk leve; and 30 on the district level, have been giving their service since 8 years. One officer works for every individual taluk and district and thus 196 persons are in duty.

Case against outsourcing

In 2015, the corporation changed the method of appointing the housing nodal officers on contract and chose to get the same service via outsourcing. Besides, the demand that those who had worked for 2 years be made permanent was also not implemented properly. In 2015, the staff went to the court concerning the issue. Since May 2016, the corporation has stopped paying the salaries of the staffs. Meanwhile, the officials representing the corporation in the court have assured that based on the court’s final decision, all pending dues will be paid in full.

Even though they are not being paid, most of the staffs are reporting for duty. Although a few days ago, the high court passed an interim order that the services of the appointed housing nodal officers be continued until the culmination of the project, the pending salaries have not yet been paid.

Corporation ignoring staffs misery

Due to the non-payment of the salaries, most of the staffs are facing much difficulty. Although the TP CEO, ZP CEO and district officers have written letters to the corporation concerning the necessities and difficulty being faced by the concerned, the corporation has willfully show no response to the pleas. The work on providing housing for the victims of the natural calamity at various locations in the state needs to gather pace and the service from the housing nodal officers is essential for this.

Even CM’s order has been ignored

Last month, the chief minister has asked the corporation to continue with the appointed taluk housing nodal officers and release their pending salaries but the salaries have not yet come. The process in this concern is stuck at the secretary level, inform some of the misfortunate staffs.

Housing nodal officers targeted

During the meetings being conducted on the GP, TP and ZP levels concerning the progress of the housing project, the people’s representatives, higher officials and public question the housing nodal officers however, the very same questioners fail to take up the issue of non-payment of salary during the meetings.

Immediate action for salary disbursal

I have spoke with the CM concerning the issue. Complete information will be collected within two days, the process pace will be increased and action will be taken for the release of the pending salaries – Kota Srinivas Poojary, DK District In-Charge Minister