Corporate representatives bearing gifts wrapped in decorative packaging is a common sight in the state secretariat building during the run up to Diwali every year. Over the years, the practice has been normalized among the Gujarat government officials. However, this year, the department of labour and employment has put a stop to this with a circular restricting officials from accepting gifts from outsiders.
The department issued a notification this week that no official or employee can accept anything as gift from outsiders on the occasion of Diwali. The copy of the notification has been forwarded to directors of labour, employment and training, industrial safety and occupational health, boilers and commissioner of rural labour.
The notification signed by Under Secretary JC Patel was issued on October 22. "With the statutory instructions from General Administration Department and Rule 13(1) of Gujarat State Service Rules, no government official or employee can accept gifts or grant permission to their family members or any other person working on their behalf to accept such gifts. This is here by instructed to all that no gifts on the occasion of Diwali should be accepted," the notice reads.
A senior official in the department said: "This notification is aimed to stop corruption in our department as our officials and employees have to deal directly with the industrial and commercial units. They receive bribe in form of gifts and that is a big problem. It is however to be seen that who all implements it, as there is no system in place to check."
The official said the notice could also be just a formality. "Big bosses in the secretariat accept more expensive gifts every year on the occasion of Diwali. So, it will not be possible to stop the staff working down the line," the source added.
A senior official in GAD said on condition of anonymity: "Everyone knows that there is a rule to not accept gifts on any occasion from outsiders but the system has gone out of control. It is almost a non-avoidable nuisance that has penetrated deeply into the government system.
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