13 lakh government employees risk losing salaries if new order is ignored; BJP government takes decisive action

LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government will not pay the salaries of government officials who do not follow the order this month. Government employees have to disclose the full details of their immovable and movable assets on the government portal Manav Sampath by August 31. Otherwise, the salary for this month will not be paid, the order states.

The first time limit for the order, which was issued in August last year, was December 31. Later it was changed to 30th June and 31st July. However, only 26 percent of the people complied with the order despite being given such time. That is why the time limit has been extended till August 31. However, the government has informed that the salary will not be paid if the order is not followed.

At present there are 17,88,429 government employees in Uttar Pradesh. Only 26 percent of them have provided property information. That means more than 13 lakh employees have to provide information. The latest directive comes as an ultimatum to those who have not submitted details despite the deadline being extended several times earlier.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh has clarified that only those who give property declarations by August 31 will be paid this month's salary. The government says this step is to increase transparency and accountability. Minister Danish Azad Ansari said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they are following the policy of avoiding corruption.

The opposition criticized the move. They blamed the failure of the government for not providing information despite being given so much time. Why didn't the government bring this law in 2017? Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said, "Have they now realized that all their employees are corrupt?"

The order issued by the Chief Secretary was sent by M Devaraj, Principal Secretary, Personnel Department to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Heads of Offices. According to the order, employees who fail to provide these details will not be considered for promotion.