RAJOURI APRIL 11 (KNO) : In a simultaneous district-wide well planned inspection of Animal and Sheep Husbandry offices 73 employees were found absent while as many as 36 centres of the department were found locked. A one-hour long drive was conducted across 10 Tehsils under supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrates involving a team of nearly 90 officials. It was 4th such major drive after ICDS, Education and FCS&CA apart from Health deptt. During the inspection,
104 centres were inspected out of which 36 were found locked and out of 213 employees posted at these centres as many as 73 were absent, 10 on leave and 13 on deputation for various official assignments. The inspection was conducted in backdrop of complaints regarding non-availability of staff for livestock treatment and healthcare. District Officers of both departments have been served notices for gross negligence. Seven officials were found absent in Nowshera Tehsil, 5 in Koteranka, 8 in Darhal, 9 in Manjakote, 1 in Qila Darhal, 7 in Tryath, 13 in Rajouri, 2 in Sunderbani and 21 in Kalakote which has maximum nomadic population. Four centres were found locked in Nowshera, 2 in Koteranka, 5 in Manjakote, 4 in Tryath, 5 in Rajouri and 6 in Kalakote among others. No official was found absent in Thanamandi. District Administration has constituted a committee headed by Addl Deputy Commissioner, Sunderbani for initiating stringent action against the absentees as well as controlling officers of the department. Salaries of the absentees centre heads as well as Controlling Officers and Drawing & Disbursing Officers have been withheld. Meanwhile, 3 officials who attempted to influence the inspection team have been placed under suspension with immediate effect.
Deputy Commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary informed that strict action is being taken against the controlling officers who failed to discharge their duties while the absentees have been summoned on 17th April for enquiry and action under service rules.