Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat DM Asmita Lal’s tough stand against wrongdoing by government officials has drawn attention. She took a strong step by withholding the salaries of 12 officials, including the CMO and the Municipal Council’s EO. Her action came after finding serious negligence in their duties. The District Magistrate has issued a strict warning that if the situation does not improve, a letter will be written to the government and further action will be taken.
Why was the officials salary withheld?
After the stoppage of salary temporarily, the DM warned all the officials that they should either improve their working style or face action.
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Recently, a large budget was allocated to clean up villages in the district, and various campaigns were launched in both rural and urban areas. Yet, despite all this, piles of garbage were still found in villages and municipal areas. The money was spent, but proper arrangements were not made. Even after repeated complaints, officials showed negligence, prompting the District Magistrate to take strict action.
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The district remained untidy, and the action against the 12 officials was taken because of the poor cleanliness situation in the district and their failure to respond seriously to complaints raised during Tehsil Day.
The District Magistrate gave a clear warning that officials must change their attitude or be prepared for stricter action. She said that withholding salaries is only the first step. If there is no improvement, she will write to the government, and further action will follow.
Who is Asmita Lal?
Asmita Lal is a 2015 batch IAS officer, currently serving as the 31st District Magistrate (Collector) of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Mumbai and a Master's degree in Public Policy and Management from JNU.
After training in Mussoorie, she served as Assistant Magistrate in Aligarh, Joint Magistrate in Moradabad, Special Secretary to the Government in Lucknow, Chief Development Officer of Ghaziabad, and ACEO of UP CIDA.