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| Monday, 13 October 2003 |
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According to news media, there will be no overtime work for public servants, from next year (2004). This decision has been taken by the Minister of Public Administration, to prevent waste of public funds on overtime, involving millions of rupees annually. According to the Minister, the working time has been changed, and public servants can report for work, at any time of the day, provided they attend to the duties to cover up the stipulated period of 8 hours, without leaving work to run into arrears. He has to sign-in when reporting for work, and sign-off when leaving the place of work, having completed the day's work. This move is welcome because it cuts down state expenditure on payment of overtime, and thus utilising the money for more useful purposes. Needless to say that employees work overtime to get some extra money, to meet initial expenses, in addition to the salary they earn, with abatement on the pay abstract, to recover dues. The payment of overtime could be allowed under exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the staff officer. All claims for overtime must be discouraged. If the public servants, as in the case of private sector employees, do their duty expeditiously, without malingering or being lethargic, there would be no work in arrears to work overtime. There are certain exceptional circumstances where overtime becomes indispensable, specially when work involved is outside duty. Employees are lured to work overtime, because there is no controlled coverage over their work by any superior officer. On the other hand, there is none to see the quantum of work to be done, and whether such work could be done outside normal work or not. Very often, the executives mind their own business, and do not check over the output of work by their subordinates. In the private sector, no money is wasted on overtime payments, unless the work involves additional time. The management is always keen to get the maximum output of work, within a stipulated time, and never encourages overtime which is a pest. Lethargy is not condoned under any circumstances. The workers are hired or fired, if the necessity were to arise. Some employees draw more overtime money than their salaries concerned. The abolition of overtime, therefore, is a wise move to save wasteful expenditure by way of overtime payments. If there is not enough cadre, the best approach is to recruit new hands, which will, automatically, reduce unemployment in the country. ARYADASA RATNASINGHE, Mattegoda. The PA and JVP leadership as well as its unionists cannot claim innocence to sabotages that accounted for break in services in Health and Railway sectors. Proof of this did continuously emanate from them at public rallies and meetings, particularly by JVP frontliners. It is strange and tragic that leaders of PA and JVP to date individually or collectively have not proposed their solutions except issuing warnings to the Government that together they will topple the Government early next year. Also in their agenda is a programme to co-opt UNF parliamentarians to join them to oust Ranil Wickremesinghe-led Government. In such a government they have failed to state how many portfolios will be granted to JVP/MEP/UNF members. Even EPDP/PLOT/CWC/and SLMC would demand rosy positions. Apart from this will they bid adieu to Norway, stop proceedings of corruption initiated like one against Chairman (PA) of Sri Lanka Rubber Manufacturing Corporation and Udathalawinna murder inquiry. M. H. R. SHERIFF, Kaduwela The Sri Lanka Telecom, which boasts of a much improved and streamlined service to its innumerous customers seem to be afflicted by a "Red Notice" Mania, which is being served even to those with no arrears of payment. This "Red Notice" allows the user a time limit of only one week, after which the line will be disconnected. This unfair tactic of theirs is apparently an indication that the staff at the SLT are more keen in collecting the re-connection fee of Rs. 600 than affording a better service. Perhaps a sizeable percentage of this will find its way to fill the pockets of the staff, who is clueless as to what transpires at their own department. Even with all the sophisticated machinery at their disposal, they cannot maintain an up-to-date account system which is most regrettable. The poor customer will ultimately have to suffer for the sins of others. The Commercial Division at the SLT office at Mihindu Mawatha, could engage more pleasant looking staff at the Customer Service Counter. ROWAN ANIFF, Colombo 13. I would like to raise three matters to be clarified for the sake of would be applicants with reference to the above. One regarding certification of the application either to GSN or a head of school did that function. These could be done by staff officers holding ranks to be stipulated by the Commissioner, and also Head of the religious organizations and any other persons whom in the opinion of the Commissioner who would perform that task effectively and diligently. Second question is about the lost NICs, one has to go to the police station and G.S.N. for entries regarding the loss. Second time too applicant must obtain the signature of the OIC, Police. How can these procedures be minimized? Thirdly Renewal, alterations in the NICs, whether this could be done in a day, if not what is the minimized procedure. I am sure Commissioner who has headed the Department for more than eight years would find solutions to the problems raised. Finally the importance of NIC is mentioned in the notice board that appearing in the dept. read thus NIC will save you always any where, and this document is required to prove one's identity at all depts. and banking institutions where one has to transact business as such this document has to be valuably kept and looked after. That may be the reason for the robbers who steal purses to take the money and send the NIC back to the owner. Even robbers are sympathetic towards the owner of the card, knowing the cumbersome process one has to undergo to obtain a duplicate card. I hope there will be some response to the issues raised which would benefit the would be applicants. VETTIVELU SABANAYAGAM, Colombo 5. In the absence of an alternative transport system to and from neighbouring India for multi-purpose business, education, seeking expertise medical treatment, visiting places of religious worship and the increase in the passenger traffic are the main ingredients for the existing AirLanka and Air India to increase the air fares to sky high to would be travellers to and from Colombo-Chennai. a distance of 482 miles in comparison with that of 2,080 miles to Singapore, 1,778 miles to Bangkok calculated at Rs. 15 for both long distance while Colombo-Chennai at Rs. 35 per mile, as per an article (DN Sept. 9) by A. Kandiah under the caption "Fleecing passengers on Chennai air route". The unreasonable increase in air fares focused attention of all travellers of both these airlines, which are the only means of transport available to South India. Further it was reported that in the Daily News of 17.9.03, an MoU have been entered into, for the promotional aspect of travel and tourism by two major entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka and Travel Tours (Pvt) Ltd of Bangalore to attract business tours and other places of interest. After all the promising future development of tourism are very bleak if collective response are not taken to safeguard the travelling public by bringing down the escalating airfares by these airlines. Unfortunately it is understood that some of these tour operators who are well aware of these facts and figures, disregard all suggestions for reasons best known to them. Thus the valuable foreign exchange earnings are lost. Also it is time that both the Governments take concerted effort towards the implementation of the much awaited Indo-Lanka ferry services which is presently floating in the Indian ocean for want of a destination either to Tuticorin or Cochin, which otherwise have been only a dream come true. Until such time the ferry services become a commitment and reality, it is with great pride and pleasure that I wish to recount an experience during the 1961 era, the age old mode of transport system by Ceylon Government Railways to Talaimannar Pier and by steamer (mv 'Goshen') to Dhanashkodi. Thereafter a very interesting and exciting journey by South Indian Railways across the long Pamban Bridge (which is no more existing) and reach Madras, should be organised by interested parties. I am sure the State Shipping Corporation and the CWE who had expressed keen interest be given due recognition in this regard, which will be of beneficial for small scale import and export traders, as well as to the would be travellers to suit their purse. M. I. M. MUDASSIR, Colombo 10 I was dismayed to read Dr. A. Nandakumar letter to the Editor of 1st October 2003 regarding the control of rabies. It is sad that Dr. Nandakumar has failed to enlighten us that he is a veterinarian. This is an important point. On the recommendation of several Vets and NGOs most municipal councils have stopped the rounding up of stray dogs and destroying them. No one wishes to kill dogs and if the municipality have one less chore to do so much the better. But let us look at the other side of the coin. There is of course no one to check if the sterilization has been correctly done. The Vets and NGOs stand to gain from this process as some funding will be utilized. Their services will never be free. What about the practical issue of catching every single stray dog and sterilizing it? This can never be done. It was reported in your paper (DN Sept. 29) that a young boy of 11 had died of hydrophobia in Kegalle. Therefore the above practice is not a practical one. But one that is used by a group of people who will play on public sympathy to line their pockets. The Colombo City now boasts of packs of stray dogs that roam the city. These dogs may look harmless but not only would they spread rabies and other diseases, but also they are a danger to the common man if they bite. Dogs near schools and homes are a danger to children. People will soon have to give up walking on the roads if this situation persists. There is also the problem of stepping on dog poo too. These dogs also scavenge garbage cans and dumps creating a mess in the already filthy city. The noise of dogs fighting, howling and barking keep residents up all night. In a city which can hardly house and feed its citizen, can we accommodate all these dogs? Why don't the Vets and all the "do good" people take in all these strays and keep them in their own compounds. I strongly recommend that all stray dogs be rounded up as it has been done in the past and destroyed humanely as possible as done in other disciplined cities around the world. This is the most commonsense control of the stray dog problem. Further every dog should have an owner, who will vaccinate it, license it and keep the animal in an orderly manner where it won't be a danger or nuisance to other people. Dog owners need to be educated about sterilizations and be fined if caught dumping puppies near temples, markets and schools. Rabies must be taken seriously because rabies like AIDS is fatal, there is no cure. CHANDRA RODRIGO, Colombo - 5. |
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