Dispur finds work culture 'unworkable'

Jatin Hazarika Commission's report gathering dust for a decade

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 7: The lahe lahe work culture in Assam has often raised the hackles of many in the State. But the Tarun Gogoi-led government seems to be least bothered in changing the attitude of government  employees in improving public services.

Ten years after the Jatin Hazarika Commission of administrative reforms submitted its report, several recommendations continue to remain in the file, even as poor work culture in the State continues to hold back and negate government work in different sectors.

The intent of the State government, while constituting the Jatin Hazarika Commission in 2002, had appeared good. But when it came to implementing the recommendations, which were made in 2005, the government developed cold feet.

Nearly a dozen recommendations made by the commission have not been implemented in the ten years that have passed, including some pathbreaking suggestions that could have had a far reaching impact on the functioning of State government offices.

Some of the key suggestions that remain on papers till date are:

*     Giving of awards and certificates to proficient employees

*    Provision for Annual Confidential Reports in sync with ISO 9000

*    Display of list of employees in the offices along with mes of their seniors to whom they are answerable. And every day, the employee must interact with his senior (the person he is answerable to ) at least once directly

*    A job chart of all employees to be displayed in the office

*    The total number of second and fourth Saturday holidays should not exceed 90 days in a year (currently it is 104 days)

*    Introduction of the desk-office system which will stipulate the maximum time a file can be in a particular table.

*    All processed files can be made available to the service-seeker at the Ga Sewa Bhavan in front of the State secretariat.

*    Decentralization of power till the block level

*    Incentives for employees posted in border areas.

*    Upgradation of the border areas development directorate to the level of a commissionerate.

It is clear the Tarun Gogoi government has neither the will nor the sincerity in imposing discipline and work culture in the State government workforce. Government employees therefore continue with their merry old ways, most of them shirking work and being accountable to no one. This is making a mockery of public services which people of the State are entitled to by right.