3 months salary pending for sericulture dept staff

Anomalies started after dept was brought under ZP, say staff

The staff in the department of sericulture in Kodagu district have not received salary for the last three months. As a result, their family members are in distress.

 

The sericulture department comes in the jurisdiction of the Zilla Panchayat. Deputy Director, Superintendent, attender, field officer among other staff in the department have not received their salaries.

“We had written to the finance department to release salary. However, no action has been initiated so far to release our salaries. We have not been getting salary regularly after the sericulture department was brought under the jurisdiction of the Zilla Panchayat,” said employees.

“Earlier, we were getting salary directly from the State government and the salaries were paid on time,” they added. 

“The sericulture department was included in the Zilla Panchayat in 2010-11, after which, we started getting salary once in six months, eight months and four months. We had not received the salary since November,” said a staff on condition of anonymity.

“I am the only earning member in my family. I have to look after my aged parents. I have to spend for their medical check up. My son is pursuing college education. I have to pay his fee too. Without salary, how can I eke out my living,?” he asked. 

“We have brought our problem to the notice of the ZP CEO and state finance department. However, no measures have been initiated to set right the problem,” the employees said. 

“Along with salary, we are also not getting allowances, encashment of leaves. Even those who have been outsourced are not given salary,” said an employee. 

They said “during 2013-14, for salary and non wages, budget of Rs 33.05 lakh was earmarked. We have received only Rs 23.75 lakh,” said an official. 

When Deccan Herald contacted Zilla Panchayat CEO Srividya, she said, “the non payment of salary has not been brought to my notice. I will discuss the issue with the sericulture department and finance department officials.”