Kotpad, : In view of the intense summer heat, the state government has instructed all government offices to start early in the morning. However, it has been observed that some government officials and staff are not complying with this directive.
At the designated office hours, there is no sign of the officials; only the office gate is opened by the peon. Though the gate is wide open, reminiscent of an open sea, there are no staff present inside the office. Despite this, fans and lights remain continuously running.
Not only that, after 8:30 a.m., the office is found locked throughout the day. This scene has been captured at the Food Supply Department office located in the Kotpad block. People from distant places come to this government office for matters related to ration cards, but they leave in disappointment after finding the office locked and no officials present.
When questioned, some respond saying the officer has gone for fieldwork. On the other hand, it is mandatory to display information in front of the office regarding which officer is present or on tour at any given time. But this rule is also being violated.
As a result, there is growing demand from various quarters to reactivate the biometric attendance system along with facial recognition to ensure staff presence. It is hoped that the district administration will take note of this and ensure that the office opens on time so that people traveling from far-off places—especially common citizens and intellectuals—can be served effectively.