Tackling Absenteeism

Surprise inspection of government offices is not new in Nagaland. Many officials have done it before, even as the government warned of strictly implementing the ‘No work, no pay’ policy. So far, it’s all hat and no cattle. No action was taken against erring employees. So, when Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton initiated a similar exercise in March this year by making a surprise visit to the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima, many might have taken it as a “one-off thing” or a publicity stunt. However, he has followed it up by inspecting government offices at regular intervals; the latest was conducted at multiple government departments in Wokha, where dozens of employees were found to be absent without prior sanction. It’s reported that he had ordered immediate salary deduction of the absentees and their names be submitted to the deputy commissioner for further action. By holding government employees accountable for failing to deliver public service, Patton has set a precedent for officials to deal with the absenteeism issue. It is no doubt a commendable exercise, something worth emulating. However, the big question is how long the deputy CM will continue the exercise. The even bigger question is why other lawmakers and bureaucrats have not taken a cue from him to curb the menace that has been crippling service delivery, hinder implementation of government programmes and reduce efficiency, thus subsequently leading to erosion of public trust.

The Education department may have hogged all the limelight by virtue of the pivotal role it plays in individual and societal development, but that doesn’t mean the rest are free of absenteeism issues. The fact is, dereliction of duty is rampant in all departments, from Health to Rural Development to Agriculture. It’s an open secret, yet the government has not taken any tangible measure to curb truancy over fear of possible backlash from influential families. The public are well aware of it yet choose to remain silent, as speaking up against the menace will affect their families or someone they know. No wonder important government files are stuck in offices, leading to delays in critical projects, cost escalation and ultimately affecting governance. It’s a collective failure that needs to be rectified – the sooner, the better. No change comes easy. It won’t be easy to do away with malpractices that have been normalised, but we have to start somewhere – one department, one office at a time.