Darbar move: TA increased to Rs 25,000

SRINAGAR: In a major welfare measure for move employees, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday announced increase in their Travel Allowance from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, a hike of 66%.
This increase is effective from this Darbar move which will take place later this month.
The decision was taken at a detailed situation-cum-security review meeting convened by Malik with the Advisors and Chief Secretary.
The Governor was briefed about the preparations for the Darbar Move which is to take place on 26th October.
“In view of the persistent request of the employees associations and as a welfare measure for the employees, the Governor decided in the meeting that the Darbar Move TA of employees which is currently fixed amount of Rs.15,000 per employee be raised to Rs. 25,000,” an official spokesman said. “This will take effect from the forth coming Darbar Move, October-2019 and Finance Department would be issuing necessary orders in this regard, shortly,” he said.
In the Darbar Move, the Civil Secretariat—the seat of government along with all move offices including the Raj Bhavan—functions six months each in Jammu and Srinagar.
The 'darbar move' was started by the then Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape the extreme heat during summers in Jammu and biting cold of winters in Srinagar. The practice was continued by elected governments post-independence to provide governance benefits -- by turns-- to both Kashmir and Jammu regions of the state for six months each.
The state government spends crores of rupees every year to shift voluminous records between the two capital cities twice a year, besides paying similar amount as allowance for the several thousand employees who shift base with the government.
With today’s hike, the government will be spending Rs 20000 more per employees.
Governor was also informed that a few Departments such as GAD, Home, Information Technology, Information, Hospitality & Protocol, etc. would be functional in Srinagar upto 31st October, 2019 in view of the formation of the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh from that day.
The Governor wished that all employees would be benefitted by enhancement in their emoluments following the formation of Union Territories.
Earlier, in the meeting, the Governor was briefed about the recent development on the security front including the opening of post paid mobile phones in the entire Kashmir province from 12 Noon today.
It was mentioned that this has provided immense relief to the people all over the Kashmir valley and was the last step in removing all restrictions that were imposed since 5th August, 2019.
The Governor was also apprised about the two incidents that happened over the last two days where militants tried to disturb the normal life through grenade and IED attack. Luckily, there was no loss of life in either of the incidents.

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