Full pay for UP secys from state coffer not possible: Muhith

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said Sunday that it was not possible to give the whole amount of salaries of union council secretaries from the government exchequer.  
"It is not acceptable. The institutions that could not pay fully the salaries and allowances of their staffs should not exist. That Protistan (organisation) should die, it is my personal opinion," he told the media.
He gave the reaction after a meeting with the Bangladesh Union Parishad Secretary Samity at his Secretariat office in the city.
He suggested that the UPs should pay the cent per cent salaries of their secretaries.
Now the Union Parishads (UPs) contribute only 25 per cent of the total salaries of their secretaries.
"It is a token contribution from the UPs. I cannot support it," he said.   
At present the secretaries at UPs get 75 per cent of their total salaries from the government fund.
President of the Samity Md Sohelur Rahman said that the secretaries of UPs carry out many important duties or responsibilities and also get involved in crisis management during any disaster. Besides, they also discharge their duties as information officers at the information centres of UPs.
"We have no specific timetable for our office work. We have to work even on the holidays. We are passing a miserable life. Please help us so that we could survive with our family members by simply meeting the bare necessities," he said.
He said that they do not afford the education of their children and many family members die without medical treatment.
General Secretary of the Samity Asaduzzaman Asad said the Ministry of Local Government recommended payment of cent per cent salaries from the government exchequer. It was now awaiting approval of the Ministry of Finance.
In this connection the Finance Minister said: "Yes, the local government ministry has made a recommendation in this connection. We heard from you (UP secretaries). However, we may consider it (demand)".

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com