NT NETWORK
MAPUSA
In a surprise visit to the government complex in Mapusa on Wednesday, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte directed the suspension of 16 staff members attached to the Deputy Collector’s office, mamlatdar office and block development office (BDO). Officers attached to the BDO and joint mamlatdar’s office have been warned. The Bardez Deputy Collector’s office turned into a virtual class on Wednesday as the Revenue Minister sat down on a chair and started calling out names from the staff attendance register. Those in the office acknowledged their presence with a ‘present sir,’ while three staff members, who failed to enter the office even by 9.45 am were directed by the Minister to be suspended for two days.
Similarly, Khaunte also visited the BDO, which hardly had a handful of staff members present at the time. Later, the Minister asked one of the staff members present to make a list of all employees, who were not present in the office. After this, he entered the office of mamlatdar, which is opposite the BDO on the same floor in the government complex, where he found that some of the staff members attached to the joint mamlatdar’s office were also not on their chairs. The Minister met mamlatdar Dasharath Gawas and asked him to make a list of the staff not present.
The final list comprised of 16 staff members of which ten were from BDO and three each from the Deputy Collector and mamlatdar offices. Members of the general public, who had visited the office for their work, also used the opportunity to raise their grievances in the Minister’s presence.
Khaunte was pleased to see all the staff in the land survey department in their place on time.
After finishing his meetings with Deputy Collector Chandrakant Shetkar and mamlatdar Gawas wherein he heard the grievances, Khaunte interacted with media persons and said, “I had a surprise visit today and found that some employees have a lethargic attitude; they have not been in the office even by 9.45 am. They have to enter their office by 9.30 am. The staff should know that punctuality is important to ensure that continuous service to the public is not interrupted.”
He further said, “I have directed two days suspension of the government employees, who were not present in the office at 9.45 am and the government employees should take this action seriously. If we are trying to implement e-governance or time-bound delivery of service to provide better services to the public to reduce their inconvenience, the first thing that is necessary is that employees attend their offices on time.”
Stating that he would like to make the revenue department more people-friendly, Khaunte said, “As the department caters to every demand of public, the government employees here should be accountable to the public and accountability should be taken seriously.”
The Deputy Collector and Bardez mamlatdar submitted their reports to the District Collector, North, on the surprise visit of the Revenue Minister and necessary action against the latecomers.
