Srinagar, Feb 12: A backlog of General Provident Fund (GPF) bills has created significant financial distress among employees in Jammu and Kashmir, with claims piling up at various treasuries.
Despite repeated requests for fund release, authorities have yet to provide a justifiable explanation for the delays, employees said.
Aggrieved claimants have reached out to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging their intervention to expedite the release of funds. Affected employees have expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting that the GPF is intended to serve as a safety net during times of need.
“An employee contributes to the GPF so that it can be utilized at the time of need. But here, for want of funds, the government has made it an unreliable fund,” said one claimant, who has been awaiting clearance of their GPF bill for several months.
Sources within the Finance Department revealed that bills amounting to crores of rupees have been pending at different treasuries. “Although the demand is projected every day to the government, no amount has been released,” the sources stated.
One employee shared their experience: “I have my GPF bill pending since November 2023. Every day I inquire about its clearance from the treasury, but the response is always the same: there are no funds.”
Wajahat Durrani, President of the Employees Joint Action Committee, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The delay in GP fund withdrawals is a serious issue. Since the reorganization of J&K, employees have faced these challenges, with their hard-earned money not being released, even in some cases after retirement.”
Despite multiple attempts to contact the Director General of Treasuries, for comments on the matter, he did not respond to calls or text messages.
In light of these ongoing challenges, employees are appealing to the LG and the Chief Minister to take immediate action to ensure the release of all pending GPF bills, alleviating the financial burdens they currently face.
