[Assam] Lack of Work Culture - Sentinel Op ed

[kamal deka]

I really stand aghast on account of the fact that how a tripe as JB's piece
was allowed for publication by the Editorial Board of The Sentinel !!!

KJD


On 8/12/07, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
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> Ram:
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> Had it not been for your drawing attention to it, I never would have read
> it.
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> BTW, you missed highlighting the main idea :
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>         *These retarding syndromes of unpunctuality, absenteeism and a
> general tendency of*
> *        lethargy are solely responsible for the backwardness of our
> State.*
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> So, what do you think of the article?
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> c-da
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> At 12:49 PM -0600 8/12/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> Even though, this topic has made the usual rounds (including Assamnet),
> Dr. JB's Op Ed makes interesting reading.
>
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>
> Highlights mine. Maybe, we ought not read such op eds - that may solve the
> problem :) :)
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> --Ram
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> *
> **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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