India’s hollow claims of progress exposed as 12,000 GP Fund claims stuck in IIOJK
Srinagar: In yet another example of New Delhi’s hollow claims and disregard for the welfare of the Kashmiri people, thousands of government employees in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are facing an unprecedented financial crisis as over 12,000 General Provident (GP) Fund withdrawal claims remain pending for months due to “non-availability of funds at treasuries.”
According to Kashmir Media Service, the shocking revelation, officially acknowledged in a Right to Information (RTI) reply, has exposed the grim financial mismanagement in IIOJK at a time when the BJP-led Indian government continues to boast of “development and prosperity” in the territory.
As per the RTI reply, 12,062 GP Fund withdrawal claims are currently pending across IIOJK. Of these, 7359 have been awaiting clearance for over three months, with many cases held up despite administrative approvals being already granted. Most claims remain blocked solely because treasuries lack funds, leaving employees stranded during times of personal and financial crisis. The reply states that most of these are stuck due to “non-availability of funds at treasuries”.
The delay has devastated employees who had long contributed to the fund to secure crucial life needs. A teacher posted in Budgam said he applied for GP Fund withdrawal four months ago for his daughter’s marriage in October. “They deducted my salary for 25 years, and now, when I need my money, I am told the treasury has no funds. I don’t understand how a government can hold back our savings,” the teacher said.
Zahida, an employee of the Health Department, said her Rs 1.8 lakh claim, submitted in April for her mother’s cancer treatment, was still pending.
Employee associations have expressed outrage over the government’s attitude, calling the delays unjust and exploitative. Despite routine assurances of “efforts underway” to clear the backlog, many employees remain sceptical, fearing further delay.
Critics argue that while New Delhi projects Kashmir as a “model of development” after the abrogation of Article 370, the reality is that employees cannot even access their own hard-earned savings in times of crisis.
