The Hindu Business Line : Move to enforce attendance rules in Kerala Govt offices

THE State Government has decided to enforce strict compliance by employees to the practice of registering their daily attendance as required under the Modernising Government Programme sponsored by the Asian Development Bank.

The Secretariat here has been chosen for a pilot project in this regard, an official said here.

The caveat on daily attendance is also occasioned by the recommendations made by a Working Group of Secretaries that suggested that strict attendance discipline be ensured before reintroducing a punching system.

The Administrative Reforms Commission had earlier recommended that punching system be introduced in the Secretariat.

The attendance system is being given top priority in the context of reports that dereliction of duty on the part of the employees had compromised general office discipline, apart from creating hardship to the public.

As per the new regime being introduced, attendance sheets in respect of all sections in the Secretariat should reach the table of the Secretary of the concerned department by 10.30 a.m. Those who report late must present themselves before the Secretary and register their attendance for the day.

Attendance would need to be marked in the afternoon too and the register should reach the secretary by 2.30 p.m. It would be returned to the section only after 4.30 p.m.

Those who report late for duty without permission would be marked as such in the register. Three such markings would cost him/her a casual leave.

Reporting late by more than one hour also would lead to loss of one casual leave. Inspection of the casual leave register and the movement register is also being made more frequent.

The Chief Secretary, Mr N. Chandrasekharan Nair, has directed the secretaries to check the registers at least once every month and assess the attendance level, reporting time, discipline and efficiency.