In continuation to the recent press release issued by the Department of Agriculture on the ATMA salary matter under Extension Reforms Scheme published in the Nagaland Post on 12th August 2021.The Department of Agriculture clarified to the allegations made so as to avoid further confusion on the caption ‘Request to release ATMA pending Salaries’ and ‘Step motherly treatment of ATMA staff of Nagaland’ published in the Nagaland Post on the 2nd August 2021 and in the Eastern Mirror on the 6th August 2021 respectively by one Imuhca.
- That, the Department have already paid the salary for the month of April 2021 to the genuine ATMA personnel’s from the last financial year(2020—21), by foregoing the earmarked components and cafeteria of activities ,which could not be taken up in time on account of COVID-19 pandemic. The aforesaid gesture have been made by the Department keeping in mind the ATMA personnel’s welfare pending release of the 1st installment for the current financial year(2021-22).
- With regard to the non-payment of salaries for the current year (2021-22), the State Government received the sanction order Vide No.F.No.36-1/2017-AE/Extn.Desk dated 09th June 2021 from the Ministry of Agriculture & FW, KrishiBhawan,GoI. Subsequently, The GoN, Finance Department issued the drawal authority Vide letter No.BUD/S-48/2021-22/383 dated 27th July 2021.
In the meantime, the GoI letter issued an O.M dated 23rd March 2021;procedure for release of funds under CSS and monitoring of the funds released and its utilization through PFMS, directing the State Government to designate a Single Nodal Agency (SNA) for implementation of each CSS scheme w.e.f 1st July 2021.
The Department said that it is on the process activating the new system i.e. the PFMS in due compliance of the aforementioned O.M due to which reasons ATMA salaries are pending. Therefore, there is no deliberate intention /negligence or dereliction of duty on the part of the SNO/Department for non-payment of salary.
(DIPR)