When Manohar Parrikar took over as Chief Minister in 2012, many Government servants feared that they would be his first targets, as, during his previous tenure, he had tried to enforce timings in Govt. Offices. While the employees felt that their “good old days” were now over, the general public anxiously awaited this move as they could at least find the employees in their seats to interact and make enquiries, though getting their work done promptly may not have been an easy proposition.
However, the CM perhaps felt that he had more important work to do, including making tall promises, some of which he could not keep, like the removal of plastics from public places and others like his much and long awaited visit to Margao to try and solve the traffic problem, which he chose not to keep.
I must apologize to the few Govt. employees, who are honest, sincere and would go an extra mile to help the public, but they are exceptions and I cannot help generalizing that the work culture in almost every Government office is not only regrettable but in fact disgusting. Walk into any Govt. Office and you will generally face a stern looking employee greeting you with a frown, which puts you off and makes you feel most unwelcome. He fails to realize that you are the reason why he or she is sitting there. Or else he/she might have been on the streets.
In fact, the roles of the public and the employees seem to be reverse in Government Offices, where the latter are the bosses and the former, servants at their mercy. Requirements are generally given in piecemeal and it is not uncommon to get illogical or unreasonable demands for dispensable documents, with the sole purpose of having matters delayed or protracted, often leaving suspicions that the employee may be awaiting a bagshish to be more obliging and diligent. This is the reason why people prefer paying a bribe and get their work done expeditiously to long delays and multiple trips, which most can’t afford. It is also observed that non-Goans get their work done faster in Govt. Offices than the Goans themselves. The reason perhaps is that the non-Goans are prepared to pay any amount to get their illegalities passed or regularized, whereas the Govt. employees will not be at ease to demand or accept the same from a Goan, who could in fact be known to him/her.
Unfortunately, in Govt. Offices, which are also mostly service organizations, prompt and efficient service is something you can expect the least. Perhaps it never dawns on the employees that they are dependent on the public, who actually pay for their salaries.
