Bihar officer protests eight-month salary delay with begging bowl
Rural development officer Alpita Singh sat outside her office in Buxar for two days to highlight her financial distress.
A rural development officer, Alpita Singh, staged a protest with a begging bowl outside the Brahmpur block office in Bihar's Buxar district after claiming she had not been paid for eight months, according to India Today.
Singh, who is posted at the Brahmpur block office, said she only received regular pay for three months during her 11-month period of service. She stated that she continued her official duties despite the unpaid dues causing her financial hardship.
The protest lasted for two consecutive days. Singh used the begging bowl as a symbolic gesture to draw attention to her situation after images of the protest went viral on social media.
Sources suggest a dispute between the Brahmpur Block Development Officer (BDO) and the Rural Development Officer is the reason for the matter. The Buxar district administration has since sought an explanation from the BDO regarding why the salary was withheld.
The district administration stated that an employee's salary cannot be stopped without following prescribed rules and getting permission from the competent authority. It added that administrative action is being taken regarding the matter.
The administration also directed all officials to follow government procedures and ensure that issues involving employees and the public are handled with accountability.