Government Holiday If It Rains

Muslim Murasu, March 2012

Tamilnadu usually receives rainfall in November. Schools and colleges will be closed. Graduates groomed with this mentality later apply for government postings. Government employment that should serve and protect the interests of seven crore people becomes hostage to selfish mindset.
There is a way out. Holidays should be completely cancelled. Salary should be credited only if employee attends work. During sudden crises due to rain, storm or famine, workers are not readily available to be deputed on the field to serve the public. Hundred crore rupees is multiplied ten times and wasted. Officers who are used to having their hands greased during normal days cannot be expected to stay away from plundering during calamities like tsunami. People keep crying out for help in distress. Government bears all the ill reputation. Population census, poverty statistics, list of beneficiaries for various schemes, are not scrupulously prepared.
Government employment falls broadly in two categories; the ones that have chances for bribes and the others that don’t. Transfers in jobs and locations can bring balance. Each office offers two types. Residence, vehicle, education expenditure for offspring and marriage lavishness of particular employee should be secretly recorded or publicly put on internet. This will throw light on extra income in a year.
Holidays in May for schools and colleges is a wrong precedent set by the British. Currently, there is no need for such lengthy vacations. Holidays for courts is travesty. Lengthy queues are waiting in employment offices. Government is caught deep in loans. In such situation, state fund should not be wasted as salary for holidays. Tasks completed in a day, week, month and year should be clearly documented and put on internet and updated every time. There should not be over-dependence on any particular officer. Government functions should continue without mercy or help of any individual. “No salary for absentees” – this fear should settle in the hearts of government employees. ‘once employed, ever employed’ policy should change. Privatization brought in by then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao shall be extended to public sector employment as well. Mindset in public sector employment and private sector employment are in complete contrast. Salary deduction and impermanence should be urgently implemented. Discipline and restrictions practiced in army shall be insisted in public sector, failing which government funds will go wasted.