Five years on, the ex-panchayat members have not received the honorarium for their services during July 2011-March 2013. While DRD Kashmir has taken cognizance of the issue and is willing to reimburse the amount, DRD Jammu has absolutely no clue.
The 33,849 ex-panchayat members across the state, who completed their term in June 2016, are yet to receive Rs 79 crores as the honorarium.
-In the state, the Panchs are entitled to get Rs 1000, while the Sarpanchs get Rs 2000 as a monthly honorarium.
The issue has been continuously raised by JK Awami Raj Movement, an organisation of and for panchayat members. Consequently, Directorate of Rural Development Kashmir notified its willingness to reimburse the amount to ex-panchayat members of Kashmir division and clear its backlog.
When DRD Kashmir is seeking authorisation from the Finance Department to release the money, DRD Jammu is in deep slumber. The Directorate of Rural Development Jammu, probably, never felt the need to check its balance sheets.
After several attempts to apprise her of the issue, Rehana Batul, Director, DRD Jammu, could only say, “I’ve not really gone into the issue. I don’t know what is the position of funds, and whether there are funds at all. I’ll have to confirm with other departments.”
“We have known the issue of unpaid honorarium for all these years. But, for us, 73rd and 74th Amendments related to Panchayati Raj Act has been a bigger issue,” casually responded Anil Sharma, President, All J&K Panchayat Conference. This shows that there has been no voice raised in this regard in the Jammu division.
In the financial year 2018-19, DRD Kashmir has been provided with Rs 595 lakhs meant to be reimbursed to ex-panchayat members. The amount available with DRD Jammu is unknown, and before it lapses, it should be released to settle the long pending demand.
-By convention, the amount of funds provided is either same or according to the number of panchayats in that division.
“The ex-Panchs and Sarpanchs from both divisions – Jammu and Kashmir, have the right to get their honorarium for their 21 months of service. We are not sure about DRDJ, but DRDK has Rs 595 Lakhs, which it is willing to reimburse as soon as it gets authorization,” says Bashir Malik, General Secretary, JK Awami Raj Movement and a former panch.
“Remaining amount, that is, nearly Rs 67 crores, is to be released by Director Finance Department,” he adds.
Number of Sarpanch * Honorarium * Unpaid months of service |
4130 * Rs 2000 * 21 |
Rs 173,460,000 |
Number of Panch * Honorarium * Unpaid months of service |
29719 * Rs 1000 * 21 |
Rs 624,099,000 |
Total unpaid amount |
Rs 797,559,000 |
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Also: Read my article at JAMMU LINKS NEWS
Jammu division Panchayat members cry for pending honorarium
http://www.jammulinksnews.com/newsdetail/171508/Jammu-Links-News-DRD_Jammu_clueless_about_pending_panchayat_honora
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