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| In Srinagar, officials go on 'winter vacation'; people suffer | | Babus mark attendance, leave files untouched | | ET Report
srinagar, Dec 15: Since the day Darbar has moved from Kashmir to Jammu official work in Kashmir has come to a standstill as offices remain deserted and officials visit the offices just to mark the attendance.
As the cold wave is intensifying and temperatures are declining officials are staying away from the offices as there is no check as such. "Many officials have already moved out of the Valley to save themselves from the biting cold conditions while a handful of the officials who are present here attend the offices for a few hours in a day without touching any of the files," sources told Early Times.
People who visit the government offices for different works have been left in lurch. The absence of winter secretariat in Kashmir has added to the woes of the common people. There is no one whom people can approach with their complaints.
The decision of the present dispensation about not to have winter secretariat in Kashmir this year has drawn flak from the people. This is for the first time in the past more than two decades that any government has given up the idea of establishing the Winter Secretariat-a subsidiary platform for the public to raise their grievances when the government functions from Jammu.
What started as an emergency measure during 90s when the State was under Governor's Rule, the Winter Secretariat gradually turned into a platform for people to approach the authorities for redressal of their grievances. The practice got a new lease of life during Ghulam Nabi Azad's tenure as J&K Chief Minister when he decided to keep his private office also open during winters in Srinagar for "effective response to the grievances and hardships faced by the people."
As per the idea, the winter secretariat was staffed with one officer of Special Secretary/ Additional Secretary-level, two deputy secretaries/under secretaries and other subordinate staff. Besides, one minister would be available in the Secretariat on rotational basis to review availability of essential commodities and the problems faced by the people.
At present neither politicians nor the officials are available in Kashmir. "The files are not moving and these would not move till the weather improves. Number of people visiting the government offices has declined manifolds as people too have realized that winter means holiday and it's no point wasting time by hovering around the government offices," said an official who wished not to be named.
Another official while talking to Early Times said, "If the officials want to deliver they can do it without the presence of any politician in the Valley. Actually winter season turns them lazy and attending offices especially in December and January months is nothing more than a mere formality."
He said, "The winter secretariat as such used to serve no purpose but the presence of a few officials in Srinagar during winter months used to keep the officials under check as they feared that neglecting their duties could be taken a serious note off in case anyone complains. Now they know that people have nowhere to go and complain." |
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