MARGAO: Alleging that few senior officials of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) ‘go missing’ during the office hours, the common people and the prominent residents of Margao have demanded a strict vigil on these officials.
The residents have alleged that many times they are forced to return back home due to the absence of concerned senior officials at the desk and their work remains incomplete.
It is pertinent to note that a few days back, Chairperson of MMC, Damodar Shirodkar, along with Chief Officer Manuel Barretto and other officials had carried out a surprise inspection in a bid to instil discipline among the staff to ensure that employees adhere to the Council’s dress code. However, later many councillors had expressed their disappointment stating that why only the staffs at lower level were being targeted, when the senior officers are not available at their desks, causing hardships to the common people.
On conditions of anonymity, one of the senior councillors told O Heraldo that on several occasions he has witnessed that the chairs of many senior officers are empty. As a result, people have to wait till the concerned officials return or go back home without their work being done.
“I have personally noticed a few officials just roaming all over the municipality, despite people waiting at their desks. And hence, the Chairperson and Chief Officer need to enforce discipline among such erring officials,” he demanded. He also informed that many times, officers are not found despite signing the muster roll.
The officials need to put up a notice at their tables if they are out for the officials work so that people also not waste their time and energy, the concerned councillor added.
Ravi Borkar, a resident of Margao said that it is very rare to complete the work in one trip, as many times they are forced to hear from the staff that the concerned officer is on leave or out for official work.
“How will people come to know the working schedule of the officers?” he questioned. He further said that few officials are mostly witnessed moving from one section to another, knowing that people are waiting for him at his table. And hence, there is an urgent need to streamline the working pattern of the officials of the civic body to reduce the hardships faced by the people visiting the MMC for their work.
“The most common reason cited for an official’s absence is he or she is on leave. As a result, there is no other option but to return home without completing the work. There are no officials found even when there is an emergency,” he alleged.
When contacted, Chairperson of MMC, Damodar Shirodkar said, “I have already instructed the Chief Officer and other senior staff of MMC to maintain a diary and make entries regarding where they are going and for what purpose. Action will be initiated if the fail to do so.”
These entries would be monitored by the MMC Chairperson and the Chief Officer.
