RDD on crutches as 18 blocks in Kupwara without BDOs, one BDO assigned charge of 6 blocks

Srinagar, Jan 18: The Rural Development Department (RDD) has been left on crutches at key positions of Block Development Officers (BDOs) in north Kashmir are unfilled for years together.

The move has hampered the day-to-day affairs of the department at the grass root level in the rural areas.

An official said the vacant positions of the BDOs have defeated the sole purpose of the department in driving the sustainable and inclusive growth in rural areas.

"The block offices play a pivotal role to empower rural communities by implementing various state and centrally sponsored schemes with an aim to enhance the quality of life in rural areas. But the blocks are without BDOs which is taking a toll on the execution of schemes," the official said.

The official said the 18 offices of the Block Development Offices were without permanent BDOs and the charge is managed by other equivalent rank officials as their additional assignment.

"This practice of assigning additional charge has marred the effective implementation of the schemes aimed at improving the basic living standards of the rural population," the official said.

Amid the practice of additional charge, the local elected MLAs have expressed their resentment over the move saying that assigning charges of multiple blocks to a single BDO creates hurdles for the common people, who are forced to search for the officer at different block headquarters.

MLA Langate Sheikh Khurshid in a post on his official X handle expressed his concern saying that the administrative efficiency should not come at the cost of public convenience. He urged the J&K Chief Minister for immediate action to resolve the issue.

An official said the charge of BDO Keran and Machill block has been given to Tehsildars as their additional assignment.

"The present arrangement has taken a toll on the routine work and the monitoring of developmental projects being executed by the RDD," the official said. As per the present arrangement, one BDO is manning charge of six blocks in Kupwara district which has marred the effective governance at the grass root level.

On January 9, the Assistant Development Commissioner (ACD) Kupwara assigned the additional charge of BDO Drugmulla to BDO Wavoora in addition to the additional charge of Block Sogam.

Also, BDO Qaziabad was given the additional charge of block Mawar and Langate in addition to the additional charge of block Rajwar, block Hyhama and block Natnusa.

Minister for Rural Development Department (RDD) Javid Ahmad Dar when contacted said the department was in the process of filling all the vacant positions of BDOs in the blocks.

“I have asked the department to finalise the seniority of the Inspectors who will be placed as in-charge BDOs in the blocks where the BDO posts are vacant,” Javid Ahmad Dar told Greater Kashmir.

He said the department was facing the death of around 100 BDOs but the matter is being expedited and the vacancies will be filled very soon. “We will complete the process within the next 20 days,” he said.