Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, Jan 12: In a major relief to grassroots rural development staff, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has accepted a long-pending demand by approving the up-gradation of the pay level of Panchayat Secretaries, including Village Level Workers (VLWs), Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs) and Gram Sevikas.
As per Government Order No. 15–JK (RD&PR) of 2026, dated January 12, 2026, issued by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the pay level of the post of Panchayat Secretary has been upgraded from Level-2 (₹19,900–63,200) to Level-4 (₹25,500–81,100) with immediate effect. The decision has been taken in pursuance of the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 143/19/2025 dated December 22, 2025.
The order further clarifies that all fresh recruitments to the post of Panchayat Secretary will now be made directly in Pay Level-4. It also states that all existing VLWs, MPWs and Gram Sevikas presently working in Pay Level-2 shall be placed in Pay Level-4 prospectively, irrespective of the length of service rendered by them in the earlier pay level.
In another significant move, the special treatment earlier granted to VLWs under Rule 9(j) of the J&K Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1992 has been withdrawn prospectively, and the Recruitment Rules governing these services will be updated and amended accordingly.
The order has been issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department, conveyed vide U.O. No. FD-Code/5/2025-02-1094 dated May 15, 2025.
The decision has been widely welcomed by employees’ associations and field-level workers, who have been demanding pay parity and upgradation for several years, terming it a recognition of their crucial role in strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions and implementing rural development programmes at the grassroots level.
