Government servants serving their own interests — Temjen Toy

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 15 (EMN): The chief secretary of Nagaland, Temjen Toy on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the government servants, stating that most of them were serving their own interests.

Toy was addressing the meeting of administrative heads of department (AHoDs) and heads of department (HoD) at the secretariat conference hall in Kohima on January 15. He asserted that among others, more than 75-80 percent of cabinet agenda pertained to service matters and added, “This speaks volumes of the priority of government servants.”

He lamented on poor attendance and expressed his disappointment on senior officers not attending offices even after two weeks of office resumption. He further stressed on the responsibilities of the administrative heads and the need of self-discipline.

“Attending office seems to have become an option, and with this kind of attitude, how can we serve our people?” Toy asked.

Further, the chief secretary directed strict maintenance of casual leave account in all offices, starting from the secretariat to the district and sub-divisional offices.

“Unless we become amenable to rules, there is no future. Government servants think we are on a higher pedestal and that we are above shouldering responsibilities which have actually been entrusted on us,” stated Toy.

He also wondered whether senior officers have any moral authority to impose discipline on subordinates and staff when they themselves were setting bad examples. He asserted that under the present circumstances, it is “embarrassing to even call oneself a public servant.”

Toy also directed all departments to strictly implement, ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy for erring employees.

On the pathetic conditions and maintenance of public property, the chief secretary stated that “even the way we use and maintain common toilets in offices indicated scant regard”. Government servants are expected to uphold the rule of law, to which he said, was “sadly visibly absent”.