PMO Note Suggests Christmas Could be Working Day for Many

mangaloretoday.com/ NDTV

New Delhi, Dec 22:  A wishlist sent out to ministries by the Prime Minister’s Office on celebrating "good governance day" on December 25 suggests it could be a working Christmas for many in the government. Sources said a detailed plan and directive from the government could follow. 

It is former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 90th birthday on Thursday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that it would be observed as "good governance day."

 

The PMO note suggests that ministers and MPs should visit "sensitive districts and organise events on good governance and sanitation on December 25" and also organise other events.

It has also suggested holding seminars with eminent speakers, e-governance camps and promoting digital literacy on that day.

A detailed circular from the Department of Personnel and Training is expected soon, which is likely to calendar Thursday’s activities for ministers and government employees on Christmas Day-  a gazetted holiday. 


There has already been controversy over an Education Ministry circular on students’ participation in activities for good governance day, but the government has clarified that schools will be closed for Christmas as usual.

Sources have however not ruled out the participation of students on what is being called a "voluntary basis."

Ruling party BJP wants representatives to share the NDA government’s achievements with the people that day and to draw parallels between the six-year rule of the Vajpayee government and the first six months in office of the current Narendra Modi government.

The BJP’s lawmakers have also been told to include a two-hour cleanliness drive and a feedback session with citizens in their constituencies on Christmas, sources said.