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Bhubaneswar: At a time when the country and the entire globe is tenaciously striving towards gender parity, an order issued by the office of Engineer-in-chief (Civil), Odisha asking all women employees under the establishment to leave office before sunset has evoked a mixed response. While a few employees welcomed the decision, social activists have questioned the seriousness of the organisation with regard to building gender equality.
"All lady officials or staff are hereby requested to leave office by 5:30 PM positively on all the working days. They are also requested to work sincerely during office hours and ensure that there shall not be any pending work on their seats," mentioned the official order dated January 27, 2021.
Soon, several concerns cropped up from various quarters. Are women not secure in the concerned office? Has any of those working women complained of facing issues going home late? Or is it because something's cooking behind the scenes which cannot take place when women colleagues are around?
Speaking to OTV on the leave-office-before-it's-dark-outside move, Goutam Kumar Pal, the Superintending Engineer (P&D) said, "They should wrap up all their work latest by 5:30 PM and leave the office. What would happen as a consequence of this is they will not face any issues at workplace or encounter any problems when they are on way to home, as there is a possibility of troubles emerging if they return late."
"It is for their good. There is nothing to worry about. The decision has been taken as a preventive measure to ensure their safety," the official stated.
Hailing the decision, Smita Satapathy, who works at the office said, "It will be of great help to us. Back home we have a family. It is always good if we are able to spend more time with all family members."
Another female employee Amina Jena said, "Perhaps, this decision seems good as well as bad. Bad because, if all of us leave by 5:30, work will remain pending. Next day if we begin from where we had left, it will eventually double our workload. So it is better to finish all work before leaving. Sir hasn't told us to leave the desk without completing work, which means we have to finish the job before 5:30 PM."
Social activists have, however, strongly criticised the move. "Is this how Odisha is implementing Naveen Patnaik government's 'Maa Ku Samman' call? The order asking women to leave office by 5:30 smacks of gender bias, ensure safety by ensuring equality. Men and women, both are given top responsibilities in the State, then why are such rules being imposed?" questioned activists.
Women and child rights activist, Rutuparna Mohanty said, "They (the government) cannot stop atrocities, so they will try to impose restrictions on women to live freely. This is the mindset. If women are stopped to work beyond 5:30 in the evening, then there is naturally something wrong with the system which is treating women as second class citizens."
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A day after the report was telecast, the Odisha Works Department sought a clarification from the office of Engineer-in-chief (Civil) on the order asking women employees to leave office before sunset. As per reports, the department has asked the office to submit its clarification in writing within seven days on what made it to impose restrictions on the timing of women staff.
