Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Will Goa ever see good governance?

AIRES RODRIGUES | SEPTEMBER 24, 2022, 09:07 PM IST

The Goa Government has woken up too late in the day to the reality that its staff have been merrily coming late to work and many a times bunking office. This long ongoing trend of the Government employees reaching office late, cheerfully absconding during office hours and leaving office early is absolutely unacceptable as it is an inconvenience to the people visiting the government offices to redress their grievances.

There is a need to ensure that in every government office in our tiny State all the staff from the peon to the Director are extremely punctual in reporting for work and work the hours they are contracted to. Even in the Secretariat at Porvorim we have very sadly been observing staff walking in at ease past 10.30am if not later. All this is impermissible and heads of all departments across Goa should themselves lead by example in adhering to punctuality.

The recent circular, warning all government staff may be just another piece of paper acting as no deterrent. It is a known fact that over the last few years hordes of ruling party workers and sympathizers have been inducted into government service with merit thrown to the winds. Many have also bought their way into being government servants. In these circumstances and with all that political patronage, they are well insulated from any disciplinary action.

Every government employee has a duty to ensure that in serving the public, the staff discharge their duties very courteously, professionally with love, passion, integrity and more importantly with that much needed smile. They must realise that the very people they serve, pay for this service and are therefore their employers who are entitled to expect excellent service at all times. Those who consider serving the people a burden and cannot even smile have no right to continue in service.

Every step possible must be taken to also ensure total transparency, efficiency, and honesty, with zero tolerance to corruption in the working of every department. Only then will there be a hope for the much needed good governance in Goa.  The government offices in any smooth functioning democracy must always be of the people, by the people and for the people. Let us hope that every government servant will truly vow towards achieving this goal. Those who cannot deliver must make room for the young and vibrant who are ready to serve with total devotion. Good governance can only come from good leadership. Leadership is not a position or a title but action and example.




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