[Assam] Lack of Work Culture - Sentinel Op ed

[Ram Sarangapani]

Even though, this topic has made the usual rounds (including Assamnet), Dr.
JB's Op Ed makes interesting reading.

Highlights mine. Maybe, we ought not read such op eds - that may solve the
problem :) :)

--Ram


*
Dr Jyotsna Bhattacharjee
*Absenteeism and unpunctuality are perhaps not peculiar to Assam, and for
that matter in other States as well. The only difference is perhaps in
magnitude, as is clearly evident here. In other States, these two retarding
syndromes are not so striking, but sadly here they have become an
inalienable part of our work ethos. *Consequently, our state has been
stigmatized as the land of lahe-lahe.* Nothing seems to move fast
here. *Outsiders
ridicule the Assamese people as a bunch of lazybones and nothing seems to
shake them.* By nature, the Assamese people are easy going and gregarious,
and apparently do not inculcate any ambitions to outshine others.
Assam, no wonder, is called a backward State. *A nation cannot progress if
its citizens are indolent.* While other States have raced ahead with
remarkable speed, Assam has remained miles behind them. *A State's welfare
depends on the people, and if the people are slow, unambitious and drowsy,
naturally there can be no hope for such a state.* The people here want jobs
but do not want to work. They do not want to take risks or struggle. Till
some years back, there was no Assamese businessman worth the name; the whole
business was in the hands of outsiders. Only in recent years, we have seen
Assamese boys and girls joining the business line and they are doing very
well.
But sadly we have not been able to shrug off our characteristic aversion to
exertion. Because of that we have become the butt of ridicule and
humiliation. We feel ashamed whenever we notice the progress made by other
States. Ironically, even in our own country, people were not aware of our
State or its people. It is only since a decade back that Assam has caught
the attention of the people due to all the wrong reasons of insurgency and
violence. Unless we can shrug off our lethargy, the future of our State is
certainly doomed.
*People clamour for jobs and are ready to pay a large amount of 'demand
money' for it*. After securing the job, the applicant sits back to enjoy his
life of leisure — looking for ways and means to earn some easy money from
hapless people, besides earning the salary at the end of the month. *The
office becomes the place for relaxation and gossip.* These people do not
care as to how much their indolence is affecting the public. You may take a
round of these offices for some urgent piece of information, but you do not
get it. Letters do not bring any response — and then you try to meet a
person dealing with your file but he may not be there, and nobody knows
whether he is present or absent. In such a messy situation, you may wonder
if these people have added invisibility to their other accomplishments. Even
if you manage to meet the persons concerned, do not think that your work
will be done. Either he will ask you to come another day, or your file may
not be found at all. But bring out your purse and the missing file instantly
reappears, as if by magic.
*These employees are concerned about nothing else but money*. They start
agitation at the drop of a hat. They demand better wages, better facilities
and better prospects. But they forget that rights and duties go together.
One is meaningless without the other. If it is their right to get better
wages and better facilities, then it is their duty to work with sincerity
and dedication. But we people, though extremely conscious of our rights, are
often forgetful of our duties.
Even if they are present in their respective offices, work proceeds at a
snail's pace. *Nobody seems to be interested in the job.* *Cobwebs can be
seen everywhere and it appears that the floors do not see a broom for months
together. Dusty files clutter the tables and the floor. They almost appear
to reach the roof. It is not known if they are* *ever opened*. What a
depressing sight!
*Absenteeism is not peculiar only to government departments; it has spread
to private establishments as well. *An owner of a firm, dealing with
refrigerators, air-conditioners and other electrical gadgets, ruefully says
that he cannot give proper service to the customers, as some of his
employees are frequently absent without any intimation to the office. He is
sure that these people are doing temporary jobs with attractive
remunerations, while remaining absent in their regular jobs. Yet they take
regular wages at the end of the month. He dare not reprimand them or take
recourse to pay-cuts, as they would start agitation against the 'injustice'
of the management towards the workers.
Due to the sloppy work mode of these diverse departments, the taxpayers
suffer. You do not get proper service from any of these establishments,
whether government, semi-government or private, to telecom, electricity,
municipal corporation or any other, though it happens by your right. Yet if
you pay them some money, the work would be instantly done, though they
should do it without demanding money. *That is our work culture.
*Unpunctuality is another malady, which has thrown a spanner in the work
output. We have taken unpunctuality as an inevitable feature of our life. We
know that people in any office will not arrive at 10 am and so we have to
adjust our time to theirs without a murmur of protest. And why should we? *All
of us are unpunctual. In any meeting or seminar we arrive an hour late,
knowing fully well that none would turn up in the scheduled time.* *Usually
employees reach their various places of work an hour late and depart an hour
early.* It is an established unwritten norm — and is accepted universally in
our country.
These retarding syndromes of unpunctuality, absenteeism and a general
tendency of lethargy are solely responsible for the backwardness of our
State. Whenever a new employee joins, he may be energetic and sincere, but
gradually after seeing the work culture of his senior colleagues, he too
falls prey to the same syndromes. This ''no work culture'' has not only
affected the economy of the State, it has also harassed the common people.
They waste time, money and energy by making rounds in some departments, run
from pillar to post to get some work done, but to no avail.
There may be myriad causes of the casual attitude of the employees towards
their respective jobs. Sickness of a family member, domestic problems,
inadequate wages, personal maladjustment, lack of interest in the job and
many more. Lack of motivation may be one of the most fundamental causes of
this insipid attitude of the employees towards their duty. It is essential
for the management to motivate the work force for better results. A healthy
relationship between management and workers is very much necessary for
motivating the employees. And of course, the high officers themselves should
lead by example by adhering to punctuality and regular attendance.
(The writer is a former Head of the Department of Philosophy, Cotton
College, Guwahati)
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