Solan: Technical Assistants (TAs) stationed at BDO offices under the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Departments express deep concern as they have not received their salaries for the past two months. This prolonged delay in payment has plunged individuals within this sector into financial turmoil. Responsible for the workload equivalent to 3 to 4 panchayats, TAs find themselves overwhelmed with tasks while grappling with the added burden of salary delays.
A virtual meeting convened via Google Meet, comprising officials and members from the Technical Assistant Association, Rural Development Department, and Panchayati Raj of Himachal Pradesh, shed light on the distress caused by the prolonged salary non-payment. Led by Sanju Devi, President of the Himachal Pradesh Technical Assistant Association, the gathering deliberated extensively on the matter.
Representatives at the block and district levels expressed frustration over the department’s failure to release salaries despite repeated pleas. TAs emphasized that the prolonged delay has severely impacted their livelihoods, pushing them into a financial crisis. Following the meeting, Sanju Devi urged the state government and Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhkhu to intervene urgently and issue directives to expedite salary disbursements for technical assistants.
Although Technical Assistants fall under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishads, the department’s inconsistent policies have led to disparities in salary disbursement. While some employees receive salaries through Grant in Aid, others are paid from the MNREGA fund. Unlike their counterparts who receive timely payments at the beginning of each month, technical assistants endure lengthy waits, often spanning several months, exacerbating their financial woes.
