SANGUEM: A day after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar caught many government staff absent at government offices in Mapusa, Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to the government office complex at Sanguem and caught many officials off guard, with some even reporting to their duties as late as 10.30 am.
Phaldessai first visited the Mamlatdar office housed on the first floor of the building complex followed by Block Development Office and subsequently visited the offices of PWD (Road & Bridges), Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department and PWD (Water Supply).
In most of the offices, Phaldessai found only about 25% of the employees reporting for duties on time, while rest of the employees reached their offices late.
At the Mamlatdar’s office, Phaldesssai found the number of people who had visited for their work to be more than the number of officials present on duty. People from distant places who went to the office for their works complained to the MLA the difficulties they had to endure on account of the officials reporting late for duties.
At BDO, Phaldessai was shell shocked to see the peon opening the office at 9.45 am with the rest of the staff following much later. The BDO was followed by PWD (Roads & Bridges) before visiting the offices of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services and PWD (Water Supply).
Almost in all offices, except for PWD (Water Supply), Phaldessai found most of the employees reporting late for duty.
He later convened a meeting at each of the offices he visited for the day and gave the officers a dressing down, while giving a strict warning to the latecomers.
Phaldessai warned the employees that he would visit the offices all over again to check their punctuality. “If the officials still continue to come late, then strict action will be taken against habitual latecomers,” warned Phaldessai.
Meanwhile, it is reportedly learnt that the officials at the PWD (Water Supply) report for duty on time for the sole reason that the department follows the card punching system for its employees. Those reporting late are reportedly marked absent, informed sources.
However at this office, the officials reportedly disappear from office after getting the card punched in time only to reappear in the afternoon to punch the card again.
Meanwhile, it was the talk of the town in the evening hours when the citizens found the government offices opened late in the evening. In the earlier days, most of the officials were used to call it a day as early as 5 pm. However on Tuesday, the offices were found open till 5.45 pm.
