Daily log of phone, toilet breaks part of Modi govt’s efficiency push

“We have 20-22 studies on hand. While this is an ongoing exercise, it’s a jump from the five studies we did last year. The government is serious about justifying and streamlining manpower,” a source in the Department of Expenditure said.

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This is the largest exercise by the SIU since it undertook 26 studies in 2003, before the first NDA government concluded its term. On an average, the SIU conducted 11 studies a year during the decade of the UPA rule. Also, while the UPA, in all its 10 years, saved the exchequer a total of Rs 265 crore through SIU, the NDA cut an expenditure of Rs 363 crore through five staff studies in 2014 alone.

This year, the government is apparently aiming at higher cuts with its rigorous inspection process. The Sunday Express has reviewed the order issued in the environment ministry on August 28. During the two-week study period, it says, “daily log sheet has to be filled in separately for each day, reflecting activities of the day from the moment the officials enter the office and till he leaves the premises.”

The activities include “phone calls, meetings, toilet, other personal time out, lunch, canteen visit etc” and the information submitted in the prescribed pro forma by each and every individual will be monitored by an SIU team on daily basis.

Set up in 1964, the SIU recommends reduction of non-justifiable manpower in government offices and also decides on demands for creating new posts. The current drive, it is learnt, is specifically aimed at weeding out contractual staff hired to handle bulk of government work.

The office of Annie George Mathew, joint secretary and in-charge of SIU in the Department of Expenditure, directed queries to officers in the unit by they declined to speak on record. Dr M M Kutty, additional secretary and in-charge of the staff inspection drive in the Environment ministry, did not take queries on the issue.