NRLM contractual employees demand pending salary
Pulwama: Contractual employees working under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in Kashmir including in Pulwama and Kulgam districts have voiced strong resentment over the non-payment of their salaries for the past ten months, warning that the prolonged delay has pushed many of them into severe financial distress.
They said that despite performing their duties diligently, they have been left without any financial support for nearly a year.
“We have been working continuously under NRLM, supporting rural livelihoods and empowering Self Help Groups, but our own families are suffering,” said Mir Masrat, a contractual employee from Pulwama.
“Ten months without salary is unbearable. We are struggling to pay rent, school fees, and even basic household expenses,” he said.
Employees from Kulgam echoed similar concerns, stating that the delay has disrupted their daily lives and affected their mental well-being. “We are committed to our work, but the administration must also understand our plight,” said Shahnaza, an employee from Kulgam. “Many of us have taken loans to survive. This situation cannot continue any longer.”
The employees appealed to higher authorities to intervene and ensure the immediate disbursement of their pending salaries.
They highlighted that NRLM workers play a crucial role in strengthening rural economies and empowering women through livelihood initiatives.
“These employees are the backbone of our SHGs. Their dedication has helped many families become self-reliant,” said a member of a local SHG in Kulgam. “It is unfortunate that they are being forced to protest for something as basic as their salaries.”
They urged the administration to take swift action and ensure timely payment of wages, emphasizing that delays of such magnitude not only affect employees but also hamper the effective implementation of vital rural development programmes in the region.
