Up and About: When punctuality took a beating

December 28, 2014 12:49 pm | Updated April 08, 2016 01:29 pm IST

At least on a couple of occasions in Coimbatore, meetings in which State ministers participated started almost two hours behind scheduled.

Apart from meeting party workers and industry representatives before the official programme, it is learnt that another reason for the delay was due to the pujas organised for former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The ministers took part in it before attending the functions.

Some of the organisers/participants suggested that the entire programme could have been rescheduled.

And, there are instances when programmes started on time. Inaugural of the annual rejuvenation camp for temple elephants that began at Mettupalayam a couple of weeks ago, was held on time.

The popular perception is that Government officials came late to office and went home early. Not to speak of time spent at canteens and discussions over lunch. But the March 2015 Plus Two and SSLC examinations have not forced students to pull up their socks but also has Education Department officials working overtime.

Even while the Class X and Plus Two public examinations are more than three months away, the officials at the Education Department are working all seven days a week on examination logistics. This is in addition to coordinating with the private schools that are hosting the public examinations. And preparation of final list of the students taking the examinations.

 Given other task to such as implementation of various Government welfare schemes, a senior official said that they are, of late, spending more time at office than at home.

Even as debate continues on whether the autorickshaws are plying by the newly introduced meter fares

autorickshaw drivers had a field day on Saturday. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadre kept the autorickshaw drivers busy by hiring them to go to wedding halls the party leaders had hired to start the party’s election process.

 Empty autorickshaw stands in most places reflected the level of engagement.

Members of the public and representatives of other political parties wondered if there was someone to regulate the inner-party elections and bring some sort of discipline in spending levels just as the Election Commission regulated the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

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