Thin attendance marked the first working day of 2014 in state government offices and it seems normalcy as far as the presence of employees is concerned is likely to be restored only by next week.
After over a week’s holiday, the state government offices resumed work on Thursday. The holiday mood though ceased to fade as most employees did not turn up for work and attendance in most offices of the East Khasi Hills district was below average.
To add to it, several ministers and the senior officials did not turn up for duty either.
Though the official holiday for Christmas and New Year began on December 24, offices registered low attendance on December 23 on account of the bandh called by the proscribed HNLC and with December 21 and 22 being Saturday and Sunday respectively, it turned out to be an extended leave for the officials.
In the absence of the officers and senior police officials who are out of station, discussions on the important matters will be held only after they return next week.
It may be mentioned that attendance in government offices had been thin during the recent pro-ILP agitation in the State.