Working on a Saturday

Free Thinker *

In Manipur people who work in the Government institutions and agencies were unhappy when the Saturday holiday was done away with as soon as a new regime set in.

The reason for cancellation of Saturday holiday was not elaborately explained - rather remained enigmatic. Perhaps it was done in order to complete the pending work which had been piling up due to the unfortunate ethnic clash and demographic displacement ( including official dislocation).

In independent India Saturday was made an office holiday by Rajiv Gandhi in June,1985. Since then, Saturday has been a holiday along with Sunday in all Central Govt departments and organizations. People working under the Union Government became so happy with the decision. The rationale behind declaring Saturday a holiday is to enhance human efficiency and effectiveness.

Instead of six days a week it has been made five days a week- I mean working days. Don't think otherwise, not even for drinking. After this popular decision of the Govt of India, many States have followed suit.

I believe almost all the States and Union Territories are having a five day week. But the Delhi Government is still working on Saturday. I think it will be changed for good very soon, certainly before the next election.

In most of the countries in Europe and America, Saturday and Sunday are public holidays. That means the Government departments, schools , colleges , and many other institutions run by the Government are closed. There may be few exceptions here and there; for instance Banks.

Here in India also Banks are open on the first Saturday and third Saturday. Of course Sunday is off almost everywhere.

One of my elderly friends who was working in Spain for quite some time told me very frankly that the employees/workers really enjoy their holidays in Europe.They thoroughly enjoy their rest days very well .They start preparing how to enjoy and where to enjoy - with whom to spend time. Their preparation actually starts from Friday evening. My friend enlightened me that Friday afternoon people start moving out.

They don't entertain any office work during their holidays. They don't even listen to their bosses. If there is some urgency you can't do anything on Sunday or Saturday. You are bound to wait till Monday. That is the culture. But they really work very sincerely from Monday to Friday forenoon (only the full allotted time). That is their work culture.

Once, I am told that there is a typical work culture in West Bengal. Saturday & Sunday are holidays. But on other working days also the officers and staff are not available before 11 am. And nobody is found after 4- 4 .30 pm. I don't know how far this is true.

If many people are saying the same- there must be some truth in it. My fear is that since we borrow so many things from Bengal - Dhoti-culture, religion, language-script, fish- eating and many other things. Someone elderly in a lighter vein told me that we even follow the work culture of Bengal. We are talking about the Government departments.

When Khemchand ji took over the Administration of the State he might have been briefed or advised by some sincere workaholic type person to make Saturday a working day again.

After all, it was started by Gandhi in the 80s. If a decision is taken contrary to this policy followed by Rajiv it may bring happiness to the Top Brass of the present dispensation at the Centre. I don't think that was the reason to make Saturday a working day in the State.

As I said earlier, the work pendency has been too high in almost all the Government Departments and institutions and that might be the reason why as a temporary measure it was done in good faith.

It went well as far as the work lot was concerned. However the decision was not a popular one among the Government employees. They perhaps thought that it was a kind of an imposition; uneasy to follow since Saturday has been a holiday for quite long.

However it is reliably learnt from internal sources that much pending work has been handled and disposed of in the last 2 months or so, by working hard on Saturdays. Hats-off to those officers and staff who could clear all the pending files in this short duration and minimise the workload.

We also need to acknowledge the meticulous planning and policy of the Grand Master and his amazing team. In fact discipline and punctuality is in the genes and karma of the leader.

Women officers and staff will be happy when they redeem their Saturday holiday. Hurray ! Thanks Masterji for empowering women too. If women are happy, the Government functions more effectively and efficiently.

Please believe !