Over 13 lakh government employees in Uttar Pradesh face the prospect of losing their salaries if they fail to comply with a stringent new directive from the Yogi Adityanath administration.
The order mandates that all government employees declare their movable and immovable assets on the government portal, Manav Sampada, by 31 August 2024.
Failure to meet this deadline will result in withheld salaries for the month and potential impacts on promotions.
The directive follows multiple extensions of the original deadline, initially set for December 31, 2023.
The deadline was first extended to June 30, 2024, then to July 31, but compliance remained low, with only 26% of employees submitting their asset details.
With nearly 17.9 lakh government employees in Uttar Pradesh, this leaves over 13 lakh still to disclose their property information.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh has made it clear that only employees who submit their asset details by 31 August will receive their salaries for the month.
This latest ultimatum is designed to enforce compliance among the remaining employees.
The state government has defended the move, asserting that it is crucial for enhancing transparency and accountability within the administration.
Minister Danish Azad Ansari emphasised that the measure aligns with the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, championed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This initiative aims to ensure transparency and accountability in government operations,” Ansari stated.
Critics, however, argue that the repeated deadline extensions highlight the government's failure to implement the order effectively.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma criticised the timing and execution of the directive, suggesting that the Yogi Adityanath government’s recent push reflects a realisation of widespread corruption among employees.
“If this was truly necessary, why was it not introduced in 2017? The current government appears desperate and ineffective,” Verma claimed.
The order stipulates that all government officers and employees must provide detailed information about their assets.
Principal Secretary of the Personnel Department M Devraj has circulated the directive to all senior administrative officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Department Heads.
Employees who do not comply will be excluded from promotions and other benefits.
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