Srinagar, June 25: The government directive for compulsory attendance of employees during hartals Friday evoked lukewarm response in Kashmir, with offices registering just 30 percent attendance in Srinagar and 50 percent in the valley as per official sources. However, offices in Jammu registered over 70 percent attendance.
 Informed sources in the Crime Investigation Department (CID), privy to attendance monitoring, said the government offices in various districts of Kashmir Valley registered about 50 percent attendance of employees on Friday. “While a majority of teachers had turned up in schools and colleges, not many students were present,” they said.
 A senior CID officer, however, said today’s attendance was “much better” as compared to earlier figures. “This is because of the government circular which made it mandatory for the employees to attend offices during hartals,” the official, pleading anonymity, said.
 He said during the earlier general strikes they would register 10 percent attendance in government offices across the Valley.
 The CID sources said the Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad, raided 22 government departments on Friday. “Overall 60 employees were found to be absent. The DC has recommended departmental inquiry against them,” they said.
 In Srinagar, sources said, 30 percent attendance was registered in government offices and educational institutions. “In Jammu offices, the attendance was about 70 percent,” they said.
 In the wake of Hurriyat Conference (G) strike call for Friday, the Chief Secretary SS Kapoor had Thursday issued instructions to the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, all Deputy Commissioners and Heads of the Departments to immediately constitute special teams to monitor attendance in Government offices/institutions. The directions, according to sources, had been given to ensure the presence of government employees in their respective offices during the hartals.
 Sources said the civil secretariat registered over 60 percent employees’ attendance. However people, who normally visit there in connection with different works, were hardly seen in the premises.
 Meanwhile, students and employees have expressed anguish over the government directive, describing it as a “browbeating tactic.” “How can the employees, especially the female staff, reach their offices in absence of public transport?” asked Ghulam Muhammad, an employee in Education Department. “The State Road Transport Corporation buses are kept at the disposal of secretariat employees, who are able to reach their offices in time. But what about other employees and students who live in volatile old city areas? What about school children? Who will ensure their safety?”
Attendance satisfactory: CS
 According to an official spokesman, the strike call given today by some groups did not evoke any favourable response from majority of the people.
 The Chief Secretary, S. S. Kapur today reviewed the attendance of employees in various offices at an officers meeting. The meeting noted that the attendance of the employees in the offices was satisfactory. It was decided that disciplinary action shall be initiated against the employees who remained absent from their duties.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST