Viju B, TNN, Nov 21, 2010,
MUMBAI: Chetan Lodwal, a senior clerk with Mhada, has a unique record, which he would not want to share with his colleagues any more.
He was among the "toppers" when it came to habitual latecoming ; in the month of July alone, of the 23 days he worked, he came late for 22. Also he left early for 17 days and in the process lost a good 85 working hours in just one month alone.
This data is part of a comprehensive analysis made after procuring data from the biometric attendance records of 194 employees across all 16 wards of Mhada's building repair and reconstruction board in the month of July.
The data showed that around 3,436 man-hours were lost in just a month as a majority of the employees came late to office and then left early. Mhada installed the biometric facility last year to track the number of hours each employee put in every day as there were regular complaints that citizens were finding it extremely difficult to meet officials, who they were told were always "on field visits" .
Mhada's chief executive officer Gautam Chatterjee told TOI it was a serious matter . "I have taken note of it and sent instructions to Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board to take action against the habitual offenders,'' he said.
"It is shocking that in spite of a circular sent by the general administration department to all district collectors to conduct surprise visits sand catch hold of latecomers , the administration is yet to form this squad,'' said RTI activist Milind Mulay, who filed a query on this issue.
He said whenever he went to the Mhada office for RTIrelated appeals, he found that many employees were absent .
"They give me frivolous excuses, like they are on a field trip, whereas the Mhada circular clearly states that they have to come to the nearest office to mark their attendance and then go for a field visit. In many offices, the outdoor register also did not show any remarks,'' Mulay said. He has now written to the chief minister and Mhada CEO to look into the matter urgently.