Assam adopts new work culture

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">guwahati: in assam, known for being a land of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">lahe lahe </span>(go slow), a silent movement to usher in work culture is on. the state government has woken up and decided to pull up its socks. new rules have been formulated and a massive process of change has been set rolling.‘‘earlier, transfers were made on the whims of ministers and politicians and in most cases, the grounds were anything but merit and efficiency,’’ a state government official said, adding things seem to be headed for a change. new transfer rules stipulate that a committee headed by the chief secretary would select candidates for key posts like project directors of district rural development agencies, block development and circle officers. an official said, ‘‘orders have been issued to select deputy commissioners on the basis of proven track records and after analysing their efficiency. we have also stipulated that officers and employees can seek transfers only after three years of their current postings — after justifying their case in writing and subsequent approval by the chief minister.’’ the new work culture mantra got a boost after congress president sonia gandhi recently lectured her chief ministers here on the importance of ‘‘good, effective governance and the need for a new administrative culture.’’ officials, however, claim that the initiative to promote work culture started much before the congress chief ministers’ conclave. ‘‘earlier doctors, engineers and field officers avoided field visits. when the congress came to power last year, participatory and transparency inducing programmes like the ‘‘raijor podulit raijor sarkar’ (people’s government at its doorsteps) were launched. the result was that all the villages were visited by government officials twice during the last nine months — something which had never happened before,’’ officials said. </div> </div>