Failed to achieving vaccination target in time, DM withheld salaries of concerned officers /officials

Shyam Sood
Rajouri /Poonch June 27:–District Magistrate Poonch on Saturday withheld the salary of the employees–including CMO, CEO all Tehsildars etc—associated/engaged in the vaccination drive because the required target couldn’t be achieved within stipulated time period.
It is pertinent to mention here that during a series of high-level meetings to review the effectiveness of containment measures in J&K in regard to Covid situation, Lt Governor had directed the officials to achieve 100% coverage of the 1st dose of Vaccine among the 45 years above age group by June 30.But in Poonch district it has been observed that due to laxity on part of officers, officials, non-gazetted staff associated engaged in the vaccination drive only 87% target could be achieved by June 26.
The salary of those officers/officials has been withheld include, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Education Officer (CEO), Medical Superintendent, district hospital; all Tehsildrs/ Naib Tehsildars, all Block Development Officers (BDOs); all Zonal Education officers (ZEOs); Block medical Officers; Sectoral Medical Officers and non-gazetted staff.
DM order reads; “Vaccination of the eligible population is one of the most important parameters to contain the spread of the virus. Despite repeated instructions, the vaccination percentage of the above 45 population is 87% only which is viewed seriously by the higher authorities. It shows laxity on the part of the officers/officials deployed in vaccination process”.Therefore, the salary of the CMO/Medical Superintendent of DH, Poonch/ CEO Poonch/ BMOs/ all ZEOs/all Tehsildars/ all BDOs/all Naib Tehsildars/ Sectoral Medical Officers and non-gazetted staff engaged in vaccination drive is hereby withheld till further orders, said DM. He further said in case non-gazetted employees whose salary bills shall be sent to the treasuries, the concerned DDO shall furnish a certificate mentioning therein that these employees are not engaged in vaccination drive.
In order, DM directed the District Treasury Officer to also direct the sub-treasuries falling within the jurisdiction of district Poonch not to entertain the salary bills of the above-mentioned employees for the month of June 2021.