As years were on, laxity creeps in. Rules are observed in their branch and even reports are not uncommon that the state government employees misbehave with common man. But who does not know that though the Left Front government in West Bengal wants to implement the pro-people policies making its political goodwill as one of the weapons? Can we forget that success of the Left Front will be dependent on the sincere effort put in by the thousands of employees in the State government administration? There is, however, no denying that during the last 22 years of the Left Front rule in West Bengal, there is dynamism in the government's work but is everything proceeding as per projections? There is no scope for complacency.

So, for some time there has been a move to ensure accountability of state government employees in all tiers of government administration. Recently of course the Fourth Pay Commission has submitted a voluminous report to the state government with the intention of ensuring accountability of the government employees.

On the basis of the report the state government is going ahead to introduce an eight-point programme among the employees to tone up the administration, may be from June even. The main thrust of the programme is rewarding the employee for good work done, punishing him for the opposite.

During the past few years questions have been raised about the work-culture of the government employees in different quarters. Some even take the issue so far that it will appear that the state government employees take the salary without rendering any service at all. This one-sided observation skirts the basic issue. They do not explain how the administration is being run at all. There are at present a total of 0.9 million employees of the state government, of school and college teachers. They also belong to state government undertakings, corporations and boards too.

The majority of this large complement of workers are disciplined no doubt but definitely a small section of them do not perform their allotted work. Virtually many of them are shirkers. The latter categories of employees are to be found in the secretariat, in the municipal headquarters and in the police force even.

Since these aberrations have been persisting for quite some time it has affected the overall work culture of the government employees. Ignoring it further may be harmful. That the Left Front government is seized of the matter will be borne by the fact that Chief Minister Jyoti Basu referred to the employees' behaviour, their performance in the last session of the Assembly.

On receipt of the Pay Commission recommendations, acting Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya held a meeting with his ministerial colleagues recently at Writers' Buildings to give shape to the government's thinking on the issue. A committee has been set up. It will submit its report soon.

Indications are that from the Chief Secretary down to a class four employee of the State government will be brought under the purview of the new rules.

Ministerial committees will be given the responsibility of supervising the employees's performance, observance of the office rules etc.

Employees' attendance will be under constant check. For each employee annual confidential report will be prepared on the basis of which promotions or punishment will be awarded to the concerned employee. In the matter of attendance in office strict watch will be maintained. Concerned officers will be given authority for marking one late. Deducting leave from their account will penalize habitual late comers. Not only years of service, performing skill will also be taken into account in awarding promotions. Unsatisfactory record in work may result in suspension from service or even loss of job.