KARACHI, June 11: Provincial Education Minister, Irfanullah Khan Marwat has said that Sindhi Adabi Board will get Rs3 million within two days for the payment of salaries of the last five months to its employees.

The minister said that he had taken personal interest to resolve the problems being faced by this autonomous institution.

The board had recently been transferred from the department of culture to the education department. As per notification SORI (S&GAD) 3-3/91, the administrative control of Sindhi Adabi Board was transferred from culture and tourism department to the education and literacy department on April 24, 2003. The department had floated summary to chief minister for Rs8.375 million as grant-in-aid, which was approved by the chief minister. He had ordered for the release of Rs3 million immediately out of budget to the board to provide relief to the board staff.

The education minister said that the grant of Rs3 million had been released by the finance and cooperation department. He said the amount would soon be transferred to the board for the payment of salaries to the employees.

Mr Marwat said that it would have been better for the employees to approach him earlier for redressal of their grievances, but unfortunately certain elements instigated them to observe hunger strikes to get political mileage.

All those, who visited hunger strike camp and issued statements were not sincere to them as none of them had ever approached the government to take up the issue and tried only to make a political issue out of it, he remarked.

The minister asked the employees of Sindhi Adabi Board to approach him directly for solution of their problems and do not let others exploit them for political interests.

Meanwhile, the culture department proposed reduction in staff, auction of printing press, induction of new chairman and outstanding writers in Sindhi Adabi Board.

In a recent report submitted to the chief minister, the culture department revealed that for the last few years, Sindhi Adabi Board could not achieve any landmark.

According to the report, the funds meant for publication of books were also being spent for payment of salaries. The board receives yearly grant-in-aid of five million rupees from the government whereas, its expenditures on establishment alone is six million rupees.

All the instructions by the chief minister to make efforts and minimize its expenditures on salaries had borne no results, the report stated. It added that the entire amount of five million rupees meant for publication of books and enrichment of literature was being squandered on salaries. Due to this monetary crisis, the board was not able to produce any publication. Its income from sale of books was much below than Rs0.5 million.—PPI