Jammu, Apr 8: In the absence of employees, monkeys are having a field day in and around the civil secretariat here.
On visiting civil secretariat, this correspondent saw groups of monkeys flocking around everywhere in the almost deserted premises. As most of the employees were absent due to the ongoing strike, the monkeys were seen moving around without any fear.
“It is hard to pass through top storey of the building especially on the north block, where monkeys are attacking every passer by”, a senior government official told Greater Kashmir.
“After a group of monkeys attacked a senior official on Wednesday afternoon, we prefer to keep some security personnel with us if we need to pass through”, he added.

NO TEA FOR SAHIB
Don’t sit for a cup of tea, if you are planning to visit any `friend’ in the secretariat, as the absence of around 300 peons in the secretariat seems to be one of the worst `crises’ senior government officials are facing.
Sources said that from the office of chief secretary to SP security, absence of peon was being deeply felt. “The CS had to go to the room of one of his subordinates himself to hand over a file to him in the absence of the peon”, sources claimed.
“I am unable to offer you even a glass of water as my entire staff is on strike”, a senior official told this correspondent. The scenario is almost same in the entire secretariat premises, where the officials, though few in number, `attending’ their duties feel `handicapped’ in the absence of their `supporting’ staff. “Thanks to the strike, Sahibs’ has finally learnt my importance in the office, where I remain there from 9 AM to 7 PM, without even being recognized by my own superior”, said a peon.
SALARY CRUNCH
Almost all the heavyweights in state politics and bureaucracy are facing severe crises of their monthly salaries as the government treasuries, across the state, especially in the civil secretariat were reportedly unable to release payments on account of the employees’ strike. Sources said that the salary of all the government employees for the month of March was to be drawn in April. “However, as the employees went on strike the salaries could not be disbursed”.
The senior government functionaries, including IAS, IPS officers and judges, were also without pay as the salary bills could not be either prepared or cleared by the concerned treasuries. Sources said that the office of Director General Accounts and Treasuries was under severe tremendous to arrange some alternative so that the salary bills of senior officers, police and judiciary can be cleared at the earliest.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST