Khurda: Soon after the implementation of ‘Mo Sarkar’ in Odisha, an initiative under 5T aimed at bringing transparency and check corrupt practices, secretaries and ministers have been paying surprise visits to government offices and organizations to crack the whip on the defaulters. Still many government employees of various departments in Khurda district were found to be blatantly flouting office timings making a mockery of the 5T.
A reality check by OTV reveals that almost all the employees of Khurda Block office including the Block Development Officer (BDO) reach late leading to discontentment among people visiting the office for several works.“It’s almost 10.30 AM and the office is yet to open. I don’t know how’s Mo Sarkar working. We are forced to wait for hours as these officials follow no time table,” alleged Ranjan Kumar Sahoo, a local.
Asked, Khurda ABDO Umesh Chandra Mohanty who was present at the office said the BDO would be reaching office in five minutes. “It’s 10.15 AM now. He (BDO) will be reaching in five minutes. I reached office at 9.55 AM and haven’t contacted the BDO. So, it is difficult for me to say why he is late,” he said.
OTV team’s next destination was Tehsil office. The clock had already struck 11 in the morning, but the office desks were lying vacant as Tehsildar and two Additional Tehsildars were yet to reach office. “It 10.45 AM already. I have been waiting outside since 10 AM but no officials have come to the office,” said another local waiting in the long queue outside the Tehsil office.
Similar scenes were witnessed in District Social Welfare Office, Weight and Measures department, Sub- Collectorate, Supply department and office of Social Protection Officer. On being asked, OTV was informed that the officials are out for office-related work.
After this, when OTV team reached the Social Conservation office, many of the officials were found absent. The Social Conservation Officer (SCO), Gopal Krushna Rath who reached at around 10:50 AM said that he was out for a field visit and also assured that action would be taken against employees reaching late to office.
“I was in field visit and just came to the office. Those officials who do not adhere to office timings will be punished. An explanation will be sought from the officers in this regard,” said Rath.
Subsequently when OTV approached Khurda Sub-Collector Santanu Kumar Mohanty to apprise him about the lapses, he was also out for some work.
There is little doubt that Odisha government’s 5T has gone for a toss.