CHANDIGARH, Dec 22: The Haryana Government seems determined to instil in its employees a sense of punctuality and discipline, never mind how unpopular the measures may turn out to be. The initial step of installing punching machines to keep a check on latecomers has left the staff fretting and fuming. The closed-circuit TV to monitor their working and the operation of the machines, may only add fuel to the fire, if the mood of the employees is any indication.The installation of punching machines at the State Secretariat has become a major irritant. The employees continue to resent the move and plan to somehow stall it.While the state government is adamant on reinstalling the machines, which were earlier tampered with and rendered inoperative by some miscreants, the employees are planning a boycott of the punching system. To ensure smooth and disciplined functioning, the government is also planning to instal a closed-circuit television network to monitor the punching system and check any attempt atvandalism.The government has already reinstalled two machines at the main secretariat to enable officials to punch their cards and plans to reinstal the remaining 14 machines for general employees, near the Haryana cycle shed parking to avoid any chaos. The requirement of closed-circuit cameras is also being worked out, say sources, adding that efforts are being made to bring the whole system into operation in another week's time.Earlier, the operation of the punching system was discontinued after some truants broke nine of the 16-odd machines installed at the Civil Secretariat. The resultant chaos forced the government to remove the machines just two days after their installation.The location of the machines had drawn flak as the ramp provided the only outlet for employees when offices closed, leading to unprecedented rush of employees seeking to punch their cards in the machines.Admitting that it was lack of space than vandalism that forced the removal of machines, an employee said the operationof punching machines had caused ``enough chaos''. ``Woman employees complained of harassment at the hands of hooligans, while other employees reported loss of purses and chains during the rush for punching cards'', said an official.``Since some employees were seen standing in the queue for punching their cards at 4.15 pm, where is the question of ensuring discipline'', said another conscientious employee.The 12 machines installed at the Haryana Mini Secretariat in Sector 17, are however, functioning normally.The president of the Haryana Civil Secretariat Employees' Association, Balwan Singh, said the employees would soon evolve a strategy to deal with the machines, which have become an irritant for them. He said we might even decide to boycott the punching system.He said ``the installation of such machines proved that the government had failed in its supervisory duty to check indiscipline and ensure punctuality among employees.''Explaining the problem, an employee working in a minister's staffsaid ``we are sent out by the minister for official duty. Does the government expect us to punch the card after coming back to the office, which is normally very late.'' The employees on dual duty with senior functionaries would also face difficulty in punching their timings, explained Singh. However, a section of employees feels that the system would help check absenteeism.
