It would appear that for some employees, Christmas and New Year holidays hasn’t ended as one department, Office of the Development Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles (Handicraft) located near Martyrs’ Park remained closed even till Monday since December 27 last year.
On learning of the matter, this Correspondent went to ascertain the matter and confirmed that the office doors were still under lock and key.
Zuben Lotha who identified himself as the general secretary of NPF, AC-I Ghaspani and also a state awardee in handicraft, told this Correspondent that he went to the office on December 27 but found the office locked till today.
“This is my third visit to the office since December 27 and not even a single employee turned up”, he said on Monday afternoon.
Zuben said that he had been waiting for the office to open since 9.30 a.m. in the morning to settle some urgent matters pertaining to an upcoming International exhibition. However, he was totally disappointed to find the office still locked.
Zuben also claimed that several other entrepreneurs had visited the office but had to return back as the office remained closed. He said they had gone for official works including renewal of identity cards for the upcoming national and international exhibitions which required clearance from the same office.
In most cities, there are no national or international level art/craft exhibitions during this season and the Kohima office had the authority to give clearance and also provide TA and DAs, Zuben said.
He also revealed that according to his sources, the Assistant Director posted in the commissioner’s office presently functioned from somewhere in Assam while another staff functioned from Imphal.
Zuben Lotha and his wife who was also an awardee in the same field had gone to the office for the third time in connection with the forthcoming 14-day International Surajkund Mela to be held at Faridabad, Haryana from February 1. They were dismayed that the office continued to remain closed for no reason.