Undeclared holiday in GH govt offices

SHILLONG: The Achik Indigenous Justice Initiative Forum (AIJIF) has urged the Chief Minister to check the misuse of government offices and negligence of duty by employees and suggested the introduction of biometric attendance system in Garo Hills .
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister on Sunday, the AIJIF said that organization visited Water Resource Department, Sub – Division Phulbari, West Garo Hills on August 31 at around 11:45 am and found the employees of the department alongwith some outsiders were playing cards inside the office.
“The atmosphere inside the office was that of a Casino, where people were found to be gambling for money”, the AIJIF alleged.
According to AIJIF, this is a clear instance of negligence and unprofessionalism.
“In another such visit to Tura North Sub-Division III, PWD Roads, Phulbari, West Garo Hills, we found that there were no employees in the office at around 12.05 pm s and it was only a lady chowkidar who was performing her duty”, the NGO pointed out
The NGO referred to its recent statement regarding the matter and assurance from the local MLA, but in vain the situation has not improved.
Citing another example, AIJIF said that the Citizens for Social Democracy (CSD) had made a shocking revelation recently that the Sub-Divisional Officer of Dalu, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited had been absconding from duty for over seven months in 2014 and employees of the PWD Roads and Water Resource Department, Phulbari, West Garo Hills were found to be ignorant of their duties.
While acknowledging the importance of the responsibilities and the accountability that these employees have to the people, the group urged the Chief Minister to meet its demands for the installation of biometric attendance system in all government offices to ensure that public offices and public funds are not misused and are conducive for the common public.
The biometric attendance system would help in ensuring regular attendance and accountability.