Cricket + Diwali = 10 days off

CHANDIGARH: Next ten days take a break- for you can virtually expect no work to happen at the government offices. Beginning with the cricket match, followed close on heals by Diwali weekend, Goverdhan Puja and Id, the governments offices are going to sport a deserted look. Almost 50 per cent office strength would be off on a festive vacation - the excuse being urgent work at home.
And there would be little that the 50 per cent willing workers attending office could do.Government machinery is too inter department dependent, says HVPN assistant engineer Kanika Tiwari. Moreover, most of the Class III and Class IV employees celebrate this time of the year in a big way and no files can move without them in office.
To avail of the 9-day leave, the employees way out is to apply for just two days leave i.e. the October 31 and November 3, reveals a government office employee. So, beginning November 28, the D-Day for the one day international till the November 6, almost everyone back home has some important personal issue to take care of.
While most bosses are aware of whats in store the coming week, there is little they can do about it. So far no applications have come in requesting for Monday off, but I am sure they would on Monday, says R K Rao, DC, Chandigarh.
The reason is justified enough, outstation employees would find it difficult to get back for a day before Diwali. In fact, some outstation employees have already left office on Thursday, says a senior official with the Punjab government. As for the boss, he can always be on a tour voices an employee.
The city colleges too would be sailing in the same boat. In view of the students not coming back, We have declared November 3 as a holiday, says DAV, Sector 10 principal Marriya. Perhaps, the only place that would witness 100 per cent attendance would be the fire department.
The fire staff has been put on red-alert. Strict instructions have been issued that no leave would be sanctioned during this period, says station fire officer ML Sharma. Instead going by the past incidents of fire and mishap, he says, " All equipment and machinery is being repaired and readied. But even if you are off, play a safe Diwali."