M A I L B A G

New work ethic needed
in all govt offices

The Punjab government has rightly reduced the number of holidays this year. On a number of occasions, government offices remained closed for four to five days in a week at a stretch because of continuity of holidays. The Tribune’s report “Nation on holiday” some time ago appears to have had its impact.

In fact, the work culture in government offices is pathetically missing. The employees do not care for the public and their problems are seldom redressed. In fact, it is said that 50 per cent employees join, live and retire as pensioners. The officers particularly think that it is their privilege not to come to office in time. The senior officers do not ensure the presence of their subordinates in offices.

A few years back, the Punjab government had issued instructions for surprise checks in the offices but these have been put in the cold storage. In schools and colleges, the teachers do not work as per their schedule. The result is there for all to see. Let us hope the government will take some more concrete steps for good governance. There is need for a new work ethic in all government offices.

KEDAR NATH SHARMA & DINESH SHARMA, Pathankot

II

Why did the Punjab government announce seven restricted holidays (RH) from a long list? If on a particular day, 30 to 40 per cent employees are on RH, there will be no work in the offices as the remaining staff do not work either. The Centre first mooted RH with an objective that heads of offices away from Delhi may declare any two days as closed days for the entire offices/ establishment under their jurisdiction, keeping in view the local needs.

There should be closed holidays on Holi, Baisakhi and Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur. The significance of the festival of colours and Baisakhi needs no elaboration. The martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur should be a national holiday. The employees should be given not more than two RH, perhaps, at their choice.

Good Friday should be RH for Christian employees and Moharram for Muslim employees. These holidays should not be counted against the two RHs otherwise admissible to them.

K.S. KHURANA, Amritsar

III

Reduction of holidays is good. The government should concentrate on redressing the grievances of the people. However, the deletion of Maha Shivaratri from the list of Gazetted holidays will hurt the sentiments of Lord Shiva’s devotees. The government should reverse its decision in this regard.

NARINDER DEWAN, Patiala

IV

Eminent Punjabi poet and theologian Bhai Vir Singh’s birth anniversary (December 5) or death anniversary (June 10) should be included in the list of RH.

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar

Beauty with brains

The middle “Remembering a Noorjahan” by R.K. Kaushik was informative (Jan 6). At first I thought it was about Noorjahan, the singer from Pakistan, a favourite of our old generation especially. It was news for us that she had come from a Kanjar family of Kasur.

However, Julia Glancy, wife of Sir Bertrand James Glancy, Punjab Governor from April 8, 1941 to April 7, 1946, who was called “Noorjahan” by the Urdu Press of Lahore, was a beautiful lady with brains. To a remark made by the Governor about marrying a petrol clerk, she is believed to have said, “If I had married him, he would have been the Governor” as she was destined to be the first lady!

MANMOHAN SHARMA, Chandigarh