Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Thursday, issued immediate instructions for better file management, proper maintenance of records and creation of more work spaces for civil servants, especially working at the lower rung, in the Secretariat Complex.To begin with, she directed the Finance and Planning & Development (P&D) Departments to take urgent steps to improve work environment so that employees feel good and look forward to get to their workplaces. “Improvement in work environment will enhance the efficiency of the staff in the Secretariat,” she observed.The Chief Minister passed these directions while taking a quick round of both the Main and Mini Blocks of the Civil Secretariat Complex, here today.Besides visiting the offices of the Minister for Finance and Commissioner / Secretary General Administration Department (GAD), the Chief Minister also inspected the Core Computer Centre of the P&D and the clerical halls of GAD, Finance, P&D, Industries & Commerce (I&C) and the Social Welfare Departments.
While interacting with the employees, the Chief Minister advised them to keep their offices clean, comfortable and well-decorated. She observed that subtle changes in workplaces can lead to better work environment which will make employees happy and productive. “By improving the comfort zones, we are actually enhancing the capacities of our workforce,” she stated.During the visit, the Chief Secretary briefed the Chief Minister about various measures being taken for computerization and digitization of the records, which, he said will pave way for creation of paperless offices in the Secretariat. She was also informed about the biometric system of attendance which is being regulated by GAD the with assistance of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The Estates Department was tasked to immediately identify a place to store iron boxes, which disturb the overall ambience and give a shabby look to clerical halls in the Secretariat.The Chief Minister suggested that environment-friendly packaging material should be used for transporting office material and files from Jammu to Srinagar and back during Darbar Moves.
The Estates Department was also asked to explore installation of tea and coffee vending machines at vantage points in the Secretariat.Those who accompanied the Chief Minister included Minister for Public Works & Parliamentary Affairs, A. R. Veeri, Minister for I&C, Chander Parkash Ganga, Minister for Rural Development, Law & Justice, Abdul Haq Khan, Minister for Finance, Culture, Labour & Employment, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Minister of State for Haj & Auqaf (IC), PHE, I&FC and I&C, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Tourism and Culture, Priya Sethi, Minister of State for H&UDD, Health & Medical Education and Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash, Chief Secretary, B. R. Sharma, Financial Commissioner, Planning & Development, B. B. Vyas and Director Estates, Dr. G. N. Itoo.