11 December,2010 06:45 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
MiD DAY spotted Mantralaya staffers making full use of ministers being away at the Assembly's winter session by gossiping and watching cricket
THE usually bustling corridors of Mantralaya have been wearing a deserted look these days, courtesy the winter session of the state Assembly in Nagpur.
The number of visitors at Mantralaya has reduced to less than 5,000 from the usual 10,000-odd a day, as most of the ministers have gone to attend the winter session of the state Assembly in Nagpur
When MiD DAY paid a surprise visit to the state government's seat of power last afternoon, we saw the staff making full use of the ministers and MLAs being away.
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The handful of staff who were in attendance were not at their desks, choosing to listen to music or watching the India-New Zealand one-dayer instead.
Barring the few really diligent ones, Bollywood songs were blaring from the workstations of most staffers even as they huddled around to share some office gossip.
The cricket lovers, most of them attached to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's office on the 6th floor, were busy rooting for the Indian team as it trounced New Zealand to make a clean sweep of the series.
Explaining the lack of activity at the Mantralaya, a senior official said, "Most of the staff members have hardly anything to do during the winter session. They usually have to wait for instructions from Nagpur and arrange for things accordingly,"
He said most staffers choose this period to go on leave as the work is much less compared to other times of the year. Some senior officials even extend their leaves to cover the first week of the New Year.
"The scenario will be pretty much the same until the ministers and staff who have gone to Nagpur resume duty after December 20.
Their counterparts, who could not make it to the city of oranges, are eagerly for them to return with orange barfi," he added.
Other staff
The policemen stationed to guard the Mantralaya and canteen staffers are also happy at getting some light days. Tea consumption has been reduced drastically and the sixth-floor canteen, which made more than 100 cups a day earlier, is making barely 30.
The number of visitors has also halved to less than 5,000 from the usual 10,000-odd a day, leaving policemen with far less work than usual.
They, however, were spotted doing rounds of the Mantralaya asking people to show their IDs and visitor passes to weed out any possible trespassers.
Officials attached to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's office told MiD DAY that they accept all suggestions and complaints from the public even at this time.
A team stationed at Mantralaya segregates the mail on the basis of importance and ensures that it is sent to Nagpur as part of the daily parcel that leaves for the auxiliary capital everyday.
Did you know?
The winter session of the Maharashtra State Assembly is held in Nagpur in November-December every year. Nagpur is the auxiliary capital of the state. The budget and monsoon sessions of the assembly are convened in Mumbai.
