Srinagar, Jan 12 : The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday sanctioned a substantial pay scale upgrade for Panchayat Secretaries, a move set to benefit thousands of rural development functionaries across the Union Territory.
A senior civil administration official told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the pay level for Village Level Workers (VLWs), Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs), and Gram Sevikas—all designated under the post of Panchayat Secretary—has been elevated from Pay Level-2 (₹19,900-63,200) to Pay Level-4 (₹25,500-81,100). The revision is effective immediately.
He detailed the key provisions of the order to KNS, stating that all serving VLWs, MPWs, and Gram Sevikas currently in Pay Level-2 will be elevated to Pay Level-4 on a prospective basis, irrespective of their tenure in the previous pay band.
He added that future recruitment for the position of Panchayat Secretary will now be conducted directly at Pay Level-4.
The officer also stated that the special dispensation previously accorded to VLWs under Rule 9(G) of the J&K Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1992, has been prospectively withdrawn.
The relevant recruitment rules for these posts will be formally amended to incorporate these changes, he confirmed.
The official further informed (KNS) that the order was issued following the formal concurrence of the Finance Department, as per its communication dated May 15, 2025.
He said that this decision is anticipated to significantly enhance the remuneration for a core segment of the rural administrative framework. Observers view the measure as an effort to bolster grassroots governance and strengthen the Union Territory’s rural development apparatus. (KNS)
