Going back to test five-day in week work culture once again, the State Government has decided to introduce it for Secretariat employees. The Cabinet on Friday took the decision in this regard that would be made applicable from January 1, 2014. Though, the reduced working day system would be examined based on the performance for the initial two months.
“The State Government has decided to implement five working days in a week for employees working in the Secretariat. Working hour for the employees would be from 10 am to 6 pm instead of 10-5 at present. It would have no bearing on the working hours as the 16 grated casual leaves would be reduced to 12,” said Cabinet Secretary JB Tubid.
Previously, the Madhu Koda Government in 2007 had introduced five-day in a week in government offices and also had rescheduled the timing of working days along with reducing casual leaves in a similar fashion. But just after one year the same Government went back and decided to revert to the six-day working week from March 1, 2008. At that time the government had given explanation that the change could not bring the desired improvement in the work culture of the employees that was intended initially.
However, this time the system has been introduced for the Secretariat only and working days would remain unchanged for other government offices in rest of the State. “This can be a good move in the present scenario as the biometric attendance system has been introduced in the Secretariat. The attendance of all the employees has been monitored now. I think this would help,” said a secretary level official. In another decision, the Government has also convened the Winter Session of the Assembly from December 13. The Session would see six sittings for business. The session would be the second by the Hemant Soren Government.
The Cabinet in another important decision gave its nod for opening Sikni colliery in latehar that was shut down due to clearance issue and later for lease. “The Cabinet took an important decision to give lease of 133.75 acres of land of the Sikni coal block to Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC) for mining purposes. The lease has been granted for 11 years,” said Tubid.
Following the closure lakh of local residents were pushed on the verge of unemployment and the State was deprived of revenue coming from the mineral. Following the decision Chief Minister Hemant Soren has planned to visit Sikni on Saturday to inaugurate the colliery.
The Cabinet has also expressed displeasure over locally based PSUs for not taking proper interest in conducting campus selection at BIT, Sindri for placement of the students. “The Cabinet has issued an instruction to the PSUs in this regard and for visiting the BIT, Sindri for campus placement. Sanction for 12 AICTE approved teaching positions has also been given,” said the Cabinet Secretary. Decision to attach 39 additional positions in JPSC’s civil service examination has also been taken.