UKHRUL, July 9: In view of the continued absence of the incumbent ZEO, the employees of Ukhrul education office has demanded the State government to immediately intervene and appoint a regular head of the department to salvage the deteriorating functioning of the department.
Speaking to news reporters here at a press conference held at ZEO office Ukhrul, officials of the department said that the functioning of the department is fast deteriorating as the office of the present incumbent PK Khailang has, for the most part, remained shut since the officer attends his office only once or twice in a month.
It may be recalled that Khailang took charge as ZEO of the department on March 13 earlier this year succeeding H Pamreingam following a government order on March 3, 2014.
Informing that in the absence the ZEO, several of his subordinate officers in the capacity of DI and AI are taking turn to run the department on his behalf and currently one M Kuinangla, senior most AI, has been acting as ZEO in charge since June 26 last, the officials further stated that even so, no important decisions could be taken by the in charge.
Consequently, all processes related to financial matters other than normal file works are kept pending, the officials lamented before adding that this has even resulted in irregular payment of salaries to the staffers.
It is also learnt that the prolonged absence of the two heads of the department has resulted in various shortfalls while implementing Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme in the district.
“Considering all these grievances, we demand that the State government immediately intervene and appoint a regular ZEO, preferably a senior officer from the districtwho can run the department effectively” stated the officials.
Expressing displeasure at the indifferent attitude of the State government, the officials questioned “Why the Stater government is not bothered to resolve our problem till date when it is fully aware that the issue of ZEO in the district is a long standing one? Is it because we are tribal?” they asked.
Meanwhile, departmental sources disclosed that ZEO Khailang is unable to attend his office here due to certain family exigency apart from facing threat from certain UG outfit which served him a monetary demand letter recently.
Notably, Khailang who has served for the last 33 years is demanding reversion of his posting to home town Senapati or retirement. As such, Khailang is apparently currently running Ukhrul ZEO department only on a stopgap basis by attending only one or two times in a month.