The Father of the Nation has been mute witness to many corrupt practices taking place right under his gaze in government offices considering the ubiquitous presence of Gandhi portrait in most offices.
For once, he might have something to cheer about these offices, at least the way the employees turn up, if the government direction asking its employees to wear Khadi or other handloom wear to offices on Wednesdays is complied with.
The first signs were not that encouraging going by the response in government offices on the first Wednesday after the proposal was mooted by the government. Those wearing handloom attires were few and far between in most government offices in the city.
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Most of them took refuge in the excuse that the government order (GO) giving official seal to the direction was not yet forthcoming.
Additional District Magistrate B. Ramachandran confirmed that the GO indeed is being awaited and that it is expected by next week. “Once we receive the GO we will definitely monitor to make sure that it is strictly complied with. It needs to taken seriously as the government decision is intended to promote handloom,” he said.
Roy, a civil station employee, said that he is doubtful about the effectiveness of implementation though he is personally in favour of the direction.
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“A similar initiative introduced by the previous government directing employees to wear dhoti or other handloom dresses on Saturdays had gradually petered out,” he recollected.
Mr. Ramachandran, however, allayed this fear stating that the implementation is likely to be more effective this time considering the choice of the day, which falls in the middle of the week, Employees had the tendency to take leave on Saturdays to have extended weekends and as such the implementation was slack.
Seema, one of the rare employees to come clad in a sari instead of her chosen churidar on Wednesday in compliance with the government instruction, however, secretly admitted that while the sari is a handloom look alike it is actually not one.
She said that many of her colleagues were fence sitters adopting a wait and watch approach. Then there are others who have sought more time to get their handloom attires either tailored or bought.
Reghu, another government employee, who had never wore dhoti to office since joining service wonders whether he will have to change his sartorial style soon.
Is it mandatory to wear a dhoti or will a handloom shirt will do, he was confused.