Over 300 Girdawar posts lying vacant in Kashmir

SRINAGAR — The relief and rehabilitation process in the flood-affected areas in Kashmir division has been severely hit as over 300 posts of Girdawars are vacant in the Revenue department.

A delegation of Patwaris (Revenue officials) under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Patwari Association led by their Senior Vice President Sajad Ahmad Bhat said that the Revenue officials are facing immense hardships in the absence of Girdawars in various circles. “Girdawaras are responsible for directing, monitoring and other relevant functions of relief distribution. It is a very important post which cannot be left vacant,” he said.

He informed that three tehsils Keran, Kralpora and Trehgam currently have one Girdawar. “How is it possible that one Girdawar would handle the three tehsils that too when there are no field Girdawaras as well in Naibats,” Bhat questioned.

He said that 330 posts of Girdawars are lying vacant in the Valley. “The vacuum was created due to the non-conducting of DPCs during the past two years. However, in the Jammu division DPCs were conducted thrice during the past two years,” he added.

Bhat said that Patwaris were also facing immense hardships without the Girdawars in their circles. “The timely DPCs in Jammu and delay in the Valley also affects our seniority list for future promotions,” he added.

Bhat said if the government delays DPC further, the relief distribution would be badly affected in the Valley as these posts would continue to remain vacant. “The need of the hour is to conduct DPCs forthwith as the Model Code of Conduct can come to force at any point of time given the upcoming assembly elections,” he added.

When contacted, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal said that he had called the DPC meeting on September 6, 2014. “We have already initiated the process (to fill the vacuum). However, some Patwaris approached the court and got interim relief against DPC,” he said.

“We will put our efforts to conduct it in the public interest before MCC comes into force,” he assured.