Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton conducted a series of surprise inspections across various government departments in Wokha district, strictly enforcing the state’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy. The move, aimed at restoring accountability in the government machinery, has sent shockwaves across the district’s administrative offices. The inspection drive began at the Department of Transport, where the Deputy CM personally checked the staff attendance register. Shockingly, out of the 20 listed employees, only six were present on duty. The remaining 14 had neither applied for leave nor provided any reason for their absence. Taking swift action, Patton ordered immediate salary deductions for the absentees and directed that their names be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner for appropriate disciplinary action.
Patton didn’t stop at just checking registers. He cross-verified each employee’s presence at their workstations. Those marked as present but not found at their desks were also marked absent, and corresponding salary cuts were implemented. The Deputy CM then moved to the Department of Agriculture, where the attendance audit revealed that 9 out of 47 employees were absent without permission. As with the previous department, Patton ordered same-day salary deductions and forwarded the names for further scrutiny. At the Department of Water Resources, 8 out of 31 employees were found to be missing without sanctioned leave. The Deputy CM reiterated the state government’s commitment to upholding work ethics and emphasized that punctuality and discipline are non-negotiable. “Every government employee is expected to report to duty regularly and with sincerity. Leave must be applied for in advance and approved through proper channels,” he said.
Patton also made it clear that these surprise inspections would continue in the future, cautioning employees across the state to take their responsibilities seriously. “This is not a one-time action. We will keep checking. Public service cannot be taken lightly,” he warned. Beyond enforcement, Patton took time to speak with the staff present at each department. He listened to their operational difficulties, infrastructure issues, and resource shortages. “While discipline is important, the government is also committed to understanding your challenges and finding ways to support you,” he assured. The Deputy Chief Minister’s initiative is being viewed as a decisive step to improve workplace efficiency and public service delivery in Nagaland. The inspection campaign has not only exposed chronic absenteeism but also reinforced the government’s message that service to the people must be carried out with sincerity, punctuality, and commitment.
