This Article is From Sep 01, 2009

Chidambaram's 9-5: Punch in, punch out

New Delhi: Didn't find a babu at his desk the last time you checked? The next time you visit, he is likely to be there.

In another first, the Home Minister has dealt a blow to babudom by making it clear that he expects all government officials to clock eight hours a day at work. And big brother is watching.

P Chidambaram has formally launched a biometric attendance control system at the MHA, perhaps the first in any ministry and first in any government office, to track hours spent at work.

Fifteen such machines have been installed at the ministry and now all employees, including the Home Minister and Home Secretary, will be clocked for the number of hours they have put in.

Though this has been imlemented in his ministry for now, the very senior UPA minister is clear he expects this to be a standard soon.

Chidambaram said: "This is a message to everyone across the country,  especially the MHA, to put in eight hours a day. We understand the concept of flexi time but we insist that eight hours is put in.  We understand 10 to 15 mins of delay thanks to traffic and congestion. But someone who comes in late is expected to put in that many hours after work."

The system will be reviewed after 15 days.
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