New Delhi: Following its mantra of maximum governance and minimum government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministers have started issuing circulars telling bureaucrats to observe a strict 9-am-to-5.30-pm job schedule with a 30-minute lunch break.
The move follows the realization that the “policy paralysis” of the UPA government had much to do with the bureaucracy becoming dormant.
While Union ministers have put senior officials to work to prepare blueprints and road maps for their respective ministries, efforts are also being made to inculcate a work culture among the lower bureaucracy.
It has also been stated in the office memo that staff members in ministries must stay in their offices during duty hours, except for other reasons when they are permitted to leave their seats.
Earlier Modi also indicated that he may implement performance-based incentives schemes for central government employees.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is slated to give a detailed presentation on Performance-Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS), which was recommended by Sixth Pay Commission and accepted by the UPA government, to the Prime Minister soon, officials said.
As per the draft guidelines framed during UPA's tenure, performance-related incentive will be payable taking into account the performance of the organization and employees during the period under consideration.
During the UPA administration, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh was among the few ministers who chased bureaucrats to make quick decisions, but, officials said, the signal under the new government is to put in place a process for speedy governance.
