SALARY OF RDO RELEASED

SALARY OF RDO RELEASED

7-NOV-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR--------------------------A report has emerged from the district that raises several questions about the functioning of the government system, while also bringing a conflict between staff members and officials into the public eye. In the Brahmpur block, RDO Alpika Singh sat on a protest—placing a sheet on the ground and keeping a bowl beside her—alleging that her salary had been withheld for about eight months. After images of this protest went viral on social media, the matter reached the district administration, which intervened and ensured the release of her salary. However, the episode took a new turn when the district administration also sought an explanation from the Brahmpur Block Development Officer (BDO), Sonu Kumar, who had withheld the salary. The BDO has since submitted his written response to the district administration.

An interesting aspect of this case is that while RDO Alpika Singh staged a protest over the non-payment of her salary, the BDO argues that the salary was withheld due to her persistent absence from duty. Consequently, the issue is no longer limited to the payment of a salary; it has raised broader questions regarding attendance, accountability, and administrative procedures within government offices.

Providing details on the matter, District Information and Public Relations Officer Alok Vats stated that the district administration took the issue seriously and facilitated the release of the RDO’s salary. Furthermore, an explanation was sought from the concerned BDO. The salary payment process was completed following an administrative review of the situation and the necessary follow-up actions.

Meanwhile, the Director of the DRDA, Arvind Kumar Singh, stated that RDO Alpika Singh had been consistently absent from her duties. On these grounds, the Brahmpur BDO, Sonu Kumar, had withheld her salary and requested an explanation. The salary has been released following a response from the concerned official. It has also been noted that the district administration sought an explanation from the Block Development Officer (BDO) regarding this matter; the BDO has since submitted a written response to the administration.

Notably, about eight days ago, a photograph of Alpika Singh—an RDO (Rural Development Officer) in the Brahmpur block—went viral on social media. The image showed her sitting on a sheet spread on the ground, staging a protest, with a bowl placed beside her. This act of protest, staged in response to the non-payment of her salary, caused a stir within the administrative department. Once the matter became public, the district administration took immediate cognizance and demanded an explanation from the relevant officials.

The sequence of events revealed that the employee's salary had been withheld due to issues regarding her attendance, which in turn led to the protest over the delay in payment. Following intervention by the district administration, the RDO’s salary has now been released, and both parties have submitted their respective explanations. It remains to be seen what further action will be taken in this case once the responses provided at the administrative level have been reviewed.