New for harmony -writing
I had considered it impossible, but saw it happening many times when I came to Mantralaya Mumbai, towards end of 2005.
All secretaries had spic and span new computers, complete with new gadgets like printer, scanner and copier. There was internet given to them all, though hardly anyone would use it to read the emails coming from general public. Everyone had a separate private email on which only their close friends could access them. There was no internet connection given to PAs and other staff on the fear that they would remain busy only in share-market transaction and not pay attention to work. Similar fear had been expressed during last more than 15 years in all govt offices, "Don't give computers to the staff because they will play card games on it." I remembered that in 1995, when working as Settlement Commissioner, I had wanted my entire office staff to learn working on computers and I had asked Dy Commissioner to allow them to play a few games so as to take away the fear of handling this new tool. And this had yielded good results. Inside Mantralaya such a suggestion would be considered blasphemy.
Finally, gradually and grudgingly computers was given to the staff too and I could find officers, staff and secretaries too, playing cards. Blasphemy was there only in openly admitting it as a tool to get familiar with the machine, not in actually and clandestinely using it for playing cards.
All secretaries had spic and span new computers, complete with new gadgets like printer, scanner and copier. There was internet given to them all, though hardly anyone would use it to read the emails coming from general public. Everyone had a separate private email on which only their close friends could access them. There was no internet connection given to PAs and other staff on the fear that they would remain busy only in share-market transaction and not pay attention to work. Similar fear had been expressed during last more than 15 years in all govt offices, "Don't give computers to the staff because they will play card games on it." I remembered that in 1995, when working as Settlement Commissioner, I had wanted my entire office staff to learn working on computers and I had asked Dy Commissioner to allow them to play a few games so as to take away the fear of handling this new tool. And this had yielded good results. Inside Mantralaya such a suggestion would be considered blasphemy.
Finally, gradually and grudgingly computers was given to the staff too and I could find officers, staff and secretaries too, playing cards. Blasphemy was there only in openly admitting it as a tool to get familiar with the machine, not in actually and clandestinely using it for playing cards.
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