Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has withheld the salaries of four Additional District Programme Coordinators (ADPCs)/Assistant Commissioners Development (ACDs) over poor implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act during the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27.
According to an order issued by Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Mohammad Aijaz Asad, a review of district-wise performance under MGNREGA revealed “extremely poor and negligible achievement” in generation of person-days against approved labour budget targets in certain districts.
The order stated that despite repeated directions and monitoring by the department regarding timely execution of works, registration of demand and enhancement of employment generation under the scheme, some districts failed to show satisfactory progress.
The department observed that the poor performance reflected lack of effective supervision, monitoring and field-level implementation.
The officials whose salaries have been withheld include Muzaffar Ahmad Sheikh of Shopian, Abdul Rashid Ganaie of Kupwara, Manoj Kumar of Kishtwar and Rafiq Ahmad of Samba.
The government said the salaries of the concerned officers would remain withheld with immediate effect till further orders and subject to improvement in performance under the scheme.
Mohammad Aijaz Asad said the department is committed towards ensuring effective implementation of MGNREGA and accountability at every level.
“MGNREGA is a flagship rural livelihood programme aimed at providing guaranteed wage employment to rural households. Any laxity in implementation, delay in execution of works or failure to achieve approved labour budget targets defeats the objective of the scheme and directly impacts rural communities,” he said.
The Secretary added that district and field-level officers have repeatedly been directed to improve planning, execution and monitoring of works to ensure timely employment generation.
“We expect all implementing agencies and officers to work with seriousness and dedication. Strict action will be taken wherever negligence or poor performance is found. The focus of the department remains on strengthening rural livelihoods and ensuring that benefits of the scheme reach deserving people on time,” he added.
The order further directed all District Programme Coordinators, who are Deputy Commissioners, to closely monitor implementation of MGNREGA and submit fortnightly progress reports to the Administrative Department.
It warned that non-compliance would invite disciplinary proceedings under relevant provisions of the J&K Civil Services Rules and other applicable laws.
