PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday cautioned government departments against staff members who behave arrogantly with visitors, saying that in some offices, peons act like bosses and contribute to the public's negative perception of the administration.
Addressing officials during Vigilance Awareness Week in Panaji, Sawant asked Heads of Departments (HODs) to counsel lower-level staff and ensure that citizens visiting government offices are treated with respect. “In some places, peons act like bosses and speak arrogantly to visitors. HODs must rein them in firmly, because unnecessary public blame falls on the department due to such behaviour,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister stressed that the conduct of government employees at every level influences how citizens perceive the administration. He urged officials to focus on facilitating people's work rather than creating unnecessary hurdles.
Sawant said government offices should help citizens navigate procedures and ensure that applications, subsidies and other public services are processed without avoidable delays. Even when a request cannot be approved under the law, officials should explain the reasons clearly and politely instead of harassing applicants. “Whether a person visits our office and leaves smiling, weeping or having cursed us is something we must seriously think about,” he said, urging government servants to reflect on how their actions affect the public.
The Chief Minister also directed Secretaries and Heads of Departments to conduct briefings for lower-level personnel during Vigilance Awareness Week, using the exercise to reinforce the importance of integrity, transparency and citizen-friendly service. He said that while most government officers perform their duties well, the poor conduct of even a small section of employees can damage the image of the entire administration.
Sawant emphasised that public trust cannot be built solely through infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges. It also depends on how citizens are treated when they approach government offices for assistance.
Calling for greater accountability across departments, the Chief Minister urged officials to simplify procedures, clear pending files and strengthen the administration's focus on ease of doing business and ease of living. He said the government's broader goals of achieving a corruption-free Goa and Viksit Goa 2037 would require the collective commitment of government employees at every level.
