PANAJI: Following the action against government employees for coming late to work, the Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) has sent memorandum to the Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, in which the body has stated that though the suspension is not a recognised penalty, it leaves deep stigma on the entire career of government servant.
It may be recalled that in a surprise visit to the government complex in Mapusa on Wednesday, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte had ordered two-day suspension of 16 staff members attached to the Deputy Collector’s
office, mamlatdar office and block development office for coming late to work.
The memorandum sent by the GGEA president John Nazareth further states that suspension is ordered as a deterrent and exhibits the firm determination to root out corruption or grave misconduct or to prevent the employees concerned from tempering with records.
Nazareth also maintained that the GGEA is not averse to carrying out surprise inspection to enforce attendance in time so as to deliver timely service to the public and the same has in fact been one of the main objective of this organisation so as to narrow down the differences between government employees and public.
The memorandum sent to Khaunte reads, “This organisation appreciates your objective as a minister to deliver prompt services to the public and we will always support you in the mission.
However, in the spurt of anger you must have not realised that the employees will be kept away from their work for two days due to suspension, so the work will be further delayed for the public for two more days.
The stigma that will remain on their mind will damage their working potential permanently and unconsciously they can develop dislike towards work and thus the work will be delayed further. Action ordered by you for suspension of the said employees in good faith with good intension can turn out to be
counter-productive in long run.”
GGEA has requested the minister to issue instruction for revocation of the orders of suspensions and to consider the period spent on suspension as period spent on duty so as not to leave any
deep stigma in career of said government employees.
When asked about this, the Revenue Minister said that he has not yet received any memorandum; hence he will react once it reaches him.