Corona: A pretext for slackers in Assam government offices

GUWAHATI: Corona has become a newfound pretext for the slackers in the State administration to evade their duty.

Of late, it has become a practice among a section of State government employees not to attend office on the pretext of some corona-like fever. Even a section of those who report for duty are reluctant to work. During the recent four-month lockdown period, the State government employees got their full salaries without having to attend offices. During the first few days of the lockdown, only 10 per cent of the employees attended offices. It was followed by 30 per cent and then by 50 per cent of the employees.

Apart from the pretext of pandemic, late-coming is one of the most common ills among the slackers (who shrink their duty hours at their own whims and fancies).

State government offices must begin at 9:30 am. But, this is only on the rule book. If one visits the offices, one will hardly come across around 50 per cent of the employees by 11 am. Most of the employees report for duty after 11 am. This is the typical work culture in the State government offices.

It's strange that the latecomers do this even though there is an attendance register in every section or branch. According to the set rules, half-an-hour late i.e., up to 10 am is considered. However, if an employee comes after 10 am he/she cannot or shouldn't sign the attendance register.

If an employee comes late for two days without intimation, that should be treated as a half-day leave. However, even if an employee remains absent from office for a day, he puts his signature in the attendance register the next day with an understanding with his authority, informed a source.

What a lady employee replied to this reporter on Monday depicts the work culture of the slackers among the State government employees. As the employee entered the State Secretariat gate at 11:55 am, this reporter asked her, "Why don't you travel in any of the buses provided by the government?"

She replied, "How can I travel by the bus that reaches office by 9.30? It's too early."

The State government spends around Rs 2,700 crore monthly on the salary head of the employees. This amount comes from the taxes being paid by the public. The government has also finalized a health insurance scheme for its employees. Even though they get a whole lot of facilities, yet a section of them is extremely work-shy.

When asked, SAKP (Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad) adviser Basab Kalita admitted that a section of employees are taking the corona pretext to evade their duties. The employees couldn't attend office for around four months due to the lockdown; but now, some of them evade their duties on the pretext of corona. "We want the government to be tough with the latecomers. The heads of sections or branches should strictly monitor the attendance system in their offices," he said.

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