Goa officials getting drunk at work? BJP wants alcometers

The BJP women's wing in Goa Tuesday said it has received complaints about government officials getting drunk while in office, and has demanded alcometers to keep tabs on such officials.

Bharatiya Mahila Morcha head Kunda Chodankar said this at a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party's state headquarters here.

Chodankar applauded Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for Monday's surprise inspection of government offices in Mapusa sub-district, 10 km from Panaji, where he found many officials absent from their seats.

"We have received several complaints that government servants step out for lunch during their break and come back drunk. The use of alcometers will help keep this in check. Those suspected of having alcohol can be subjected to alcometer checks," Chodankar said.

Goa has a relatively liberal alcohol tax regime, making it available for cheap. Alcohol consumption is common among tourists as well as local residents.

Parrikar Monday visited several offices, including those of the revenue, urban development, and public works department, in Mapusa during the post-lunch hour and found several bureaucrats missing from their seats.

Chodankar said Parrikar's sudden inspection exposed the "lack of discipline in various government offices".

"We waited for two and a half years for a sense of discipline to set in among government officers, but that does not seem to have helped. We are glad that the chief minister is now cracking the whip," she said.