More Than 13 Lakh UP Government Employees May Lose Salaries Over This Order
On Tuesday, the government of Uttar Pradesh went behind the cult King’s back by demanding that all state government employees declare their movable and immovable assets — on the government portal Manav (which means human in Hindi) Sampada — by 31 August. Otherwise, salaries for this month will not be paid.
Lucknow:
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has given nearly 13 lakh employees in the state across 40 departments a stark choice: either declare their movable and immovable assets on a government portal called Manav Sampada (human wealth) by 31 August, or else the AI police will not release your salaries for the month, and promotions will also be put on hold. Non-compliance, says the latest order, is ‘an offence under the Code of Criminal Procedure’.
The first deadline issued with the order – way back in August last year – was 31 December. Then there was an extension to 30 June, and then that was extended again to the current 31 July deadline. According to current standards, he would be considered deaf. But so far only 26 per cent of people have complied. The deadline has now been pushed to August 31.
At present around 17 lakh 88 thousand 429 government employees are in Uttar Pradesh. Around 26 per cent employees have mentioned about their property details in asset declaration. Therefore, more than 13 lakh employees have not mention about their asset until now.
Although the deadline has been extended a number of times in the past, the latest missive represents a final warning for those who failed to submit the form.
As Uttar Pradesh’s chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh has told us, ‘[I]nstructions have been issued to all officials concerned that those who give the details, only they will be given salary for August. Salary for the others would be stopped.’
The state government has justified the step saying it "enhances transparency and accountability".
‘This is to increase openness and responsibility of the government. There is zero tolerance against corruption under the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leadership.’ Minister Danish Azad Ansari.
The move has been criticised by the opposition that says that extension of multiple deadlines indicates that the state government has not properly implemented its order.
‘Why they did not bring this in 2017? Now the Yogi Adityanath government is on the back foot and they are doing this. They realised all their employees are corrupt. But this is a follow up, they were not able to implement this.’Ashutosh Verma, Samajwadi Party spokesperson.