Already miffed over the non availability of the ministers in Civil Secretariat, the visitors who come from far off places for resolution of their problems allege that they face lot of hardships to enter the Secretariat.“It is hard to reach inside the Secretariat and meet the ministers for solving our problems. The government circular that no visitor will be allowed to enter the Secretariat before 1 pm has added to our problems,” said Ghulam Hassan, a Handwara resident who was waiting outside the Secretariat.Another visitor who had come to meet R&B minister told KNS that he faced a lot of problems before entering the Secretariat. “The government should understand that there are people who come from far-off places and it is difficult to return home late,” Imran Ahmad, resident of Uri told KNS.
The visitors alleged that they are subjected to ‘unnecessary’ strict security checking before entering in to the premises of the Secretariat. “It took me around two hours from the main gate to the main Secretariat building as there were lot of security check points which I had to cross,” Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Anantnag told KNS.Outside the Secretariat, people every day make a beeline as they wait for their turn to enter inside. “The timings should be changed. We are being told we can only go inside after 1 pm. Secretariat should be open to general public throughout the day,” the visitors said.It is pertinent to mention here that the government has imposed restrictions on the entry of visitors to the Secretariat before 1 pm. A circular to this effect was issued here on 14.07.2015 and the government had said it aimed to restrict the rush of visitors to the Secretariat and streamline the functioning on working days.While officials say they are feeling relieved and getting time to concentrate on the work due to the new order, the visitors said the direction has added their trouble.“We get enough time to clear files and do work. Otherwise you would see chaos and confusion as anyone would enter your cabin and seek details about issues of no concern to you,” said a senior official.
The circular reads: “It has been observed that visitors enter the Civil Secretariat premises irrespective of the time fixed. This unrestricted entry of visitors, before the fixed time, doesn’t serve any purpose as the ministers and the officers are busy during the early hours in connection with their official engagements,” the circular reads.The circular has directed the officers working in the Secretariat to fix their meetings after the time that has been fixed for the entry of the visitors to the Secretariat.Though officials feel relieved, security personnel manning the Secretariat face tough time to convince people, who want to visit the Secretariat.
“The visitors presume security guards are deliberately restricting their entry. But we have clear orders from the government that nobody even the media persons should not be allowed to enter before 1 pm,” a top official of Secretariat security told KNS.Meanwhile, visitors also complained that ministers hardly attend their offices. “Majority among the ministers stay out of their offices on one pretext or the other. The visitors who come from far off places for resolution of their problems had to wait hours together outside the offices of ministers but leave disappointed in the evening to their respective places,” the visitors complain.Interestingly on Monday MLA Habakadal Shamema Fridous was seen arguing with the R&B minister Altaf Bukhari about the callous approach of ministers towards the general public. (KNS)