Administration officials told DNA that initially, the DM had withheld the salaries of 1,000 employees, but the numbers came down to 600 on Saturday after 400 employees submitted the details.
In perhaps a first, a district magistrate (DM) in Bihar has withheld the salaries of about 600 employees who have failed to file employment details and asset declaration statements by the stipulated January 20 deadline.
Kaimur DM Rajeshwar Prasad Singh said that he resorted to this approach to discipline the district administration officials. "Grade I, II and III level staff... all those who have not complied with the rules have been taken to task. If they cannot carry out their own responsibilities, how will they be responsible in the job they do?" he said.
In a letter issued by the DM to the Drawing and Disbursing Officers on January 2, January salaries would be be released only if a details' list was received by January 20. February salaries, the letter said, would be released when scanned and signed disclosures in PDF format in compact discs will be received, latest by February 20.
Administration officials told DNA that initially, the DM had withheld the salaries of 1,000 employees, but the numbers came down to 600 on Saturday after 400 employees submitted the details.
"Mostly, there is a sort of inertia among employees to finish this work. That's why we have decided to be strict this time," says the DM, who is on time with his paperwork, to lead by example. He added that almost two-third employees have now taken the documentation work seriously.
It was in 2010 when Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister that the Bihar government mandated all personnel -- from fourth grade staff to even ministers -- to declare their movable and immovable property details, which was to be uploaded on the state government's website for public scrutiny.
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