Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 08 December 2023
The prescribed office hours set by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration seem to have little bearing on the routine in government offices across the islands. A recent incident witnessed by Mr. Sunil Gupta sheds light on the prevalent culture of extended lunch breaks leading to hours of unavailability of government staff in rural areas.
As per the Circular of Assistant Secretary (GA) dated September 5, 2023, government offices’ designated timings span from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM with a standard half-hour lunch break from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM. However, employees in rural areas habitually stretch this break from 30 minutes to a staggering two hours on a daily basis.
Mr. Gupta’s visit to the Assistant Commissioner Office in Nancowrie on December 7, 2023, at around 2:30 PM revealed an empty and locked office premises. The first employee arrived back only at 2:50 PM, indicating an extended absence during official hours. When questioned about the irregularity, the staff member declined to cooperate or even disclose their name, falsely suggesting that the lunch break extended until 3:00 PM.
Further exacerbating the issue, the second employee returned at 3:00 PM, prompting both individuals to contact their colleagues and urge them to return to the office.
Attempts by Mr. Gupta to address this pervasive tardiness with the Assistant Commissioner were thwarted as the official was reported to be unwell and had opted to stay home for the day.
This incident is just one example of a broader problem faced by numerous residents of the islands due to government employees’ habitual disregard for prescribed office hours. Despite circulars from the Administration dating back to April 26, 2006 (the oldest circular that could be found on web related to the subject), warning of disciplinary actions for habitual lateness, the extent of penalties enforced at different offices remains unclear.
The lack of accountability and frequent absenteeism during official hours demand urgent attention and strict measures to rectify the situation. Instances like the Nancowrie AC Office are not isolated; several government offices across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reportedly follow similar practices, adversely affecting public services and engagement.
Unless immediate and decisive action is taken, the issue of non-punctuality among government employees in rural areas is poised to exacerbate, further undermining public trust and service delivery standards.