'Come to Office on Time, Ensure Subordinates Do So': Yeddy

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 26: ''Come to Office on time and ensure that all their subordinates also do the same,” advised Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to his senior bureaucracts, including secretaries and departmental heads in the State administration.

Beginning the exercise of toning up of administration after the recent episode of political uncertainty, Yeddyurappa directed all the top-ranking bureaucrats to strictly ensure that they come to office on time and to personally monitor whether all their subordinates too have come on time.

Stressing the need for quick disposal of files, he issued a fiat: ''No case-worker should hold any file for more than a week.”

The Chief Minister, who held at meeting of secretaries and departmental heads for reviewing the implementation of the state budget and developmental works, did a lot of plain-speaking to refurbish the Government’s image.

It is the first meeting of top-ranking bureaucrats and departmental heads being held by the chief minister after he survived political uncertainty marked by the recommendation of presidential rule in the state by the governor.

“You should first come to office well on time and then only proceed to visits and meetings, if any,” Yeddyurappa told the bureaucrats in a bid to drive home the point that only such a practice would bring about discipline among subordinate officials too.

“Even if you think that you cannot clear a particular file, do not sit over it. Give the reasons and dispose of the file within a week. Let the senior officials decide,” he said unnecessary delays in clearing files would not be tolerated.

Urging the departmental heads to be vigilant, he asked them to take note of media reports on people’s problems as well as administration and respond to them immediately.

Making a passing reference to the recent political uncertainty, he said: ''The recent episode of artificial political situation has disappeared and fortunately we are now set to provide a stable and creative administration.”

Yeddyurappa said: Despite obstacles, we (Karnataka) are second in the country in terms of development. Let us make concerted efforts in the remaining two years of the present Government’s term to take the state to the Number 1 slot.

He asked them to take the forthcoming legislature session very seriously and personally go through the replies provided by their departments to questions of legislators.

Pointing out that several districts have already started receiving rains, he told the bureaucrats to take advantage of such a positive situation and to expedite development works.

Later, the Chief Minister told reporters that he had reminded the ministers at the Cabinet meeting in the morning about his earlier direction to work from their ministerial offices in Bangalore at least for three days a week. ''All have agreed to adhere to such a schedule,” he added.