SHILLONG: In the absence of Chief Minister and some of his cabinet colleagues in the state capital, the work culture in the State Secretariat has hit its nadir.
It is hard to sight ministers. The babus and their orderlies seem to be taking it easy.
For the last few days, hardly anything has moved in the state’s corridors of power. In the absence of the chief minister and other ministers, the State Secretariat wears a deserted look. Only a few staff members are found moving around the corridors.
Recently, when contacted a cabinet minister first said that he is in a club in Kolkata and soon corrected that he is in a car in Kolkata and hence cannot hear the questions asked by this reporter.
The Opposition had recently alleged that the Chief Minister is in station only for a week in a month which, according to them reflects on the nature of work culture in the state.
Taking advantage of the absence of Chief Minister, some ministers have also remained absent from the State Secretariat for the last many days followed by the babus.
Adding to the problem, a series of holidays last week have also resulted in poor work culture.
While the employees and senior officials are monitored by punching machines through the access control system put in the entrance of the secretariat, no punctuality rules are followed by the ministers.
The irony is that even the punching machines have also failed to improve the work culture and punctuality in the Secretariat.
A visitor to the Assembly Secretariat at Police Bazar recently said that he was told that the staff would start coming only at 12 pm though the actual working hours are from 10 am to 5 pm.
NPP leader Conrad Sangma said that the Chief Minister and other Cabinet ministers should lead by example even as he said that the state’s head should look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reaches office on time. He said that the Chief Minister and other Ministers remaining out of station for a long period has set a wrong example for the officials and other staff.
