Health dept orders staff to not ‘wander’ in office

Jaipur: Health department has issued a directive cautioning employees of health directorate against wandering in hallways, lounging with staff, and strolling through gardens during work hours.

This unconventional order aims to ensure that staff members remain seated at their desks during work hours. The accumulation of pending tasks has had a significant negative impact on the health department's operations. The department is hopeful that by implementing this measure, it can improve efficiency.

During a recent meeting, principal secretary (health) Gayatri Rathore, said departmental plans, programmes, budget announcements, and other tasks should be completed within the specified timeline. She stressed the importance of working with a mission of zero pendency to strengthen public health facilities and said, "Unnecessary delays in work will not be tolerated".

Following Rathore's direction, director (non-gazetted) of the health department, Rakesh Kumar Sharma, issued this order on Oct 18. The order mentioned that staff members are often found away from their seats and roaming on the premises of the health directorate, leading to delays in work and an increase in pendency, which creates an adverse image of the health department in the eyes of the state govt. Additionally, health department employees who come from different districts to work at the health directorate face difficulties due to these delays.

The health department directed employees to utilise their time efficiently and clear the pending work during office hours. The incharges of the divisions within the health directorate have been instructed to take action against employees who waste office time.