A Precedent Must Set
In a much-delayed yet welcoming move, the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (Vigilance Branch) has asked government employees engaging in private enterprises to desist from such activities, informing that undertaking any employment other than one’s public duties or promoting such trade without the prior approval of the appropriate authority is an offense under the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968.
- After turning a blind eye to dereliction of duty by many
government employees, irrespective of department and designation for decades,
Nagaland has finally woken up to the harsh reality that is slowly dragging the
state to the oblivion. In a much-delayed yet welcoming move, the Department of
Personnel & Administrative Reforms (Vigilance Branch) has asked government
employees engaging in private enterprises to desist from such activities,
informing that undertaking any employment other than one’s public duties or
promoting such trade without the prior approval of the appropriate authority is
an offense under the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968. Stating
that some employees even have the audacity to publicly advertise their
association with private enterprises, the department warned that violation of
government rules can invite failure to disciplinary action, including
suspension and termination. Unfortunately, it may take time, even years, to
make government employees fall in line and pay heed to official directives, as
they are so used to absenteeism; they may think that it’s just a passing phase
and things will fall back to the same old ways after a brief uproar, something
we have experienced in the past, including the ambitious “No Work No Pay”
policy that remains to be implemented to this day. However much we want and try
to straighten things up, nothing much changes on the ground. This harsh reality
is a matter of concern.
- The fact is that corruption, including bribery and nepotism,
is so rampant in our state. The public also contributes to it by choosing to
get things done quickly through unfair means and refusing to report corrupt
practices. It is also a fact that one of the reasons for the high demand of
government jobs in the state is getting “paid without working”, which many take
pride in, while others choose to remain silent. We also know how the practice
of proxy teaching is affecting the functioning of government schools but the
concerned department seems to be at its wits end, not knowing how to address
the issue differently after several failed attempts. Unethical practices are so
rampant that any attempt to do away with them is met with resistance today. So,
it won’t be surprising if the government’s recent directive on its employees
not to engage in private enterprises falls on deaf ears. This is the price the
state has to pay for prolonged negligence and the failure to hold errant
employees accountable for dereliction of duty, leading to disregard for the
rule of law and government authority. It’s time to set a precedent by
penalising employees who refuse to perform their duties diligently, for which
they are being paid.
