JOIN USThe Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officer Bharati came under fire for non-payment of salary to the teachers working on contractual basis at Ashrama Girijana schools in the district, from the last four months.
Chairman of Zilla Panchayat Social Justice Standing Committee Jawaregowda who raised the issue at the monthly Karnataka Developmental Projects (KDP) progress review meeting at the Zilla Panchayat hall here on Monday, said that some of the aggrieved teachers had petitioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his visit to his native Siddaramanahundi in the district, on Sunday.
Jawaregowda pulled up the officer for being lethargic in addressing the issue, as the outsourcing agency had failed to pay the teachers from September to December 2014, even though the contractor is stipulated to pay salaries on time, irrespective of delay on the part of the government.
Jawaregowda was also irked by the officer’s ignorance about the matter even, as it had been brought to the notice of some of the elected representatives, and eventually the chief minister.
When Bharati tried to explain that the salaries for the months of July and August had been disbursed, and that she was not aware of further delay, she came under flak from ZP president Pushpa, Vice-president L Madappa and ZP member C T Rajanna, Chairman of another Standing Committee.
Bharati, in her defence later made a vain attempt by blaming the procedural delay as her office was not receiving attendance on time from the taluk level, only to invite the wrath of the elected representatives on the dais again.
Rajanna categorically asked the officer not to speak in defence of the agency, but set right the issue in the interest of the teachers.
It was eventually decided to serve a notice on the erring agency to seek explanation on the delay in salaries.
DH News Service