Party poll promise unfeasible

Hyderabad, April 3: The Telugu Desam’s (TD) election promise to introduce five-day week in state government offices, it has already failed in the past, is being viewed as impractical.

Former Chief Ministers M. Chenna Reddy and N.T. Rama Rao had introduced the system with little success. The Chenna Reddy government could not implement it for more than a year in 1979 and 1990. The change in office timings from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm, was opposed by the employees. Also, people were unhappy as the government staff was not available for more than 150 days in a year. Same was the case during the NTR regime in 1985.

Many employees’ associations argue that the system may suit the Central government employees as only 30 of the Central government departments directly deal with the public as opposed to 152 state government offices including civil supplies and revenue which are accountable to people.

The AP NGO Association president, Mr V. Gopala Reddy, said the five-day week was impractical. “The TD should have consulted employees, and other sections before including it in the election manifesto,” he said.

Some organisations want the government to fill the two lakh vacant posts to ease the work load before considering any change in the office timings.

The AP Secretariat Association president, Mr M. Hanumantha Reddy, said the TD’s assurance was not practical. “Several employees are overloaded and files cannot be cleared quickly if the five day week is introduced,” he said.

“Employees should not be allowed to apply for leave on Fridays and Mondays to avoid delays in clearing files,” said Mr Suraj Prasad Agarwal, the president of Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.