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| JKTDC fails to pay 6th Pay arrears, gratuity to retirees | | | Saqib Junaid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 15: Having been set up as a profit making Corporation of Jammu and Kashmir, the JK Tourism Development Corporation is running in losses with liabilities of employees having touched to Rs 20 to 25 crores.
Official sources said the JKTDC has spent crores of rupees on setting up of tourism infrastructure at the tourist destinations over the years. Despite that authorities making tall claims that Corporation was generation revenue crores of rupees annually, the employees are not getting at par benefits with other employees of the state government. "The Corporation has huge avenues which could generate income hundreds of crores of rupees annually but the lackadaisical approach on part of its authorities has turned it a failure," an official said.
Although the state government employees have been receiving 6th pay commission arrears for years but the JKTDC employees are yet to avail such benefits. "We have held protests several times seeking releasing of 6th pay commission arrears but to no avail," the official said.
Similarly the employees who have retired since 2006 are yet to get the gratuity amount. "We were given Rs 3 lakh fifty thousand as gratuity amount but we demanded it at par with other employees of the government. After which we approached the Labour Court and it gave judgment in our favour. Despite that JKTDC authorities are not releasing the gratuity amount to us," a retired employee said. He said the Corporation has over Rs 20 crores liabilities of employees pending arrears and the retired employees' gratuity.
There are allegations that JKTDC authorities clear the bills of only those contractors who "grease the palms of its officials".
Sources said the Corporation has spent crores of rupees on the construction of the club at Pahalgam but it has failed to realize any revenue for the Corporation.
"Actually this club has been constructed for the Babus and the politicians who visit there without paying any money to the Corporation," the official said, wishing not to be named for fear of reprisal. "Government has said the Pahalgam club will be outsourced but no one has been interested as the government has sought very high bid," the official said.
While the for the first time in two decades the Estates Department this year has hired only 13 huts from 48 huts located at Cheshmashahi and the rest will use TDC for tourists to generate the revenue and attempting to come out from the financial crisis.
Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Managing Director JKTDC Farooq Ahmad Shah confirmed that Corporation had failed to pay 6th commission arrears to the employees. "We don't seek any financial assistance from the government. When we don't have funds available then how can we release them 6th pay commission arrears," Shah told Early Times. He said the Corporation has to pay salaries to 900 employees.
"The gratuity of retiree is a sub-judice matter. Once we get the orders from the Court, we will adhere its directions".
When asked about the poor functioning of newly inaugurated Pahalgam Club Shah said there is some construction still going on in the club. We are going to outsource it once the work gets completed," he added. |
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