The Madhya Pradesh government has launched an initiative to track down state employees who have been absent from their duties for several years. The state’s Finance Department has issued instructions to all government departments to identify these employees.
The move comes after the government discovered that work in several departments had stalled despite having a sufficient number of employees on record. Department heads, during a system restructuring, noticed that certain employees were not responding to repeated instructions or notices, yet continued to draw wages and receive other benefits without fulfilling their duties.
This directive applies to district administrations, requiring them to compile a list of missing workers who have not provided any notice or information.
Sources within the Finance Department indicate that the directive applies to departments operating from the Secretariat in Bhopal as well as other state-run offices across Madhya Pradesh. The exact number of missing employees remains unclear at this time. However, estimates suggest that between 2,000 and 4,000 workers may be unaccounted for.
District collectors have been assigned the task of inspecting their respective districts and compiling reports on missing employees, which will be submitted to the Finance Department. Employees who have been absent without notice for more than five years will be declared ‘dice-non’, indicating unauthorised leave. Disciplinary action may follow for those found in violation.
