Udalguri administration faces staff shortage

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, Nov 19: Is it possible for an office of the Deputy Commissioner to function without a single Assistant Commissioner? Or for a civil subdivision administration to function without the Sub Divisiol Officer?

The BTAD district of Udalguri, created by carving it out from Darrang district as per the provisions of the Bodoland Accord in 2004, at present is a glaring reflection of the mismagement and lackadaisical attitude of the State Government in maintaining smooth functioning of the district administration. Like its neighbouring district of Darrang, Udalguri district has also been facing acute shortage of officers in the district administration which has almost crippled the administration. Deputy Commissioner Sadha Hojai, assisted by a handful of officers, is already over burdened with work, but has been making every effort for smooth and proper functioning of the administration.

Following the transfer of all the four Assistant Commissioners, the Additiol Deputy Commissioners have been overburdened with the additiol duties of the Assistant Commissioners. Similarly, the civil subdivision administration in Bhergaon subdivision of the district has been functioning without a Subdivisiol Officer for quite a long period. Additiol Deputy Commissioner Dithaka nda Hazarika is compelled to shoulder the additiol responsibility of the Subdivisiol Officer at Bhergaon Subdivision and the Circle Officer of Kalaigaon Revenue Circle, which is one of the oldest Circle Offices set up during the early British rule.

Interestingly, another Additiol Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Manta is entrusted with the additiol responsibility of Project Director of DRDA, Circle Officer of Harisinga Revenue Circle and at the same time has been functioning as the Block Development Officer of Bhergaon Development Block.   Of the five Revenue Circle Offices in the district, mely Khairabari, Kalaigaon, Harisinga, Udalguri and Mazbat, only one Circle Officer has been posted at the Circle Office in Khairabari with the additiol charge of the Block Development Officer at Khairabari Development Block. Circle Officer of Mazbat Revenue Circle, Pankaj Chamua is also entrusted with additiol charge of the Circle Officer of Udalguri Revenue Circle.  Similarly, all the six Development Block offices of the district are also headed by officiating Block Development Officers, mostly the Extension Officers. At the same time, the Excise department has been functioning without the Superintendent of Excise and Deputy Superintendent of Excise. However, very recently one Deputy Superintendent of Excise has been posted in the district, that too with the additiol charge of the Superintendent of Excise in Darrang. The posts of Drugs Inspector and Food Safety Officer are also lying vacant. Significantly, the District Information and Public Relation office is also lying vacant since quite a long time.

All the four legislators of the BJP- BPF alliance of Kalaigaon, Panery, Udalguri and Mazbat LACs of the district, including minister Rihon Daimary, seem allegedly indifferent to this shortage of officers in the district administration.