The functioning of key government departments like rural development department (RDD) in Ganderbal is suffering due to shortage of block development officers (BDOs) as a single BDO is holding charge of multiple posts causing inconvenience to the public.
In a glaring example of official apathy, several blocks of rural development department (RDD) in Ganderbal district are headless for the past several months. Three block development offices of rural development department in Ganderbal district are functioning without any permanent BDOs. Three rural development blocks including Block Gund, block Sherpathri and block Safapora in Ganderbal district are functioning without any permanent BDOs for several months now.
The department is managing these key positions on adhoc basis by giving additional responsibilities to the already overburdened officials. “Non-availability of a BDO not only takes a toll on development but it hits planning as well,” said an official.
“How can these officers do justice with their additional jobs?” asked a local resident. “Due to failure of the government to depute regular heads for these block development offices, people of the district have to suffer.”
Newly posted Director RDD, Qazi Sarwar Ahmed said that the matter has been taken up with the higher authorities. Secretary Rural development department, Sheetal Nanda told Greater Kashmir that the department is facing shortage of BDOs due to which many rural development blocks are left without BDOs. “The posts have been referred to the recruitment agencies and the department shall accordingly fill up the vacant BDO posts,” said Nanda.