THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday directed the personal staff of ministers to avoid accepting gifts. He said even receiving a cell phone would be considered as corruption. Speaking at the meeting of personal staff of ministers at the secretariat, he emphasised on streamlining the functioning of their offices and improving the efficiency of personal staff. While going out of office, they should provide exact details about their whereabouts.
He said while there was the need for better coordination between various departments, they should not interfere with the decisions or activities of other departments. The staff should view all with some suspicion, but it should not become an ailment. He said political consideration and partisanship was not allowed in decision making. They should not behave or act with political retribution or with political differences.
He said those visiting the minister or other people in his office should be treated respectfully. Referring to the piling up of files, he asked the staff to expedite such matters and also ensure that there are no lapses while dealing with files. He said there were instances of people using personal staff to settle personal and political scores. One should not fall into such traps. Beware of middlemen and agents in the corridors of power, he said. Mr Vijayan stated categorically that personal staff would not be allowed to interfere in matters of transfer. A fresh guideline about transfers would be laid down soon.
He cautioned the personal staff against indulging in political activities from ministers’ offices. Though the LDF is at the helm of state administration, one should not forget that it is people's government. He said the news appearing in media about departments should be brought to the notice of the minister concerned. He reminded the staff about the previous UDF government which was "neck-deep in corruption." When media persons sought his reaction after the meeting with personal staff, he said the interaction was with the staff, and there was nothing to share with the media.
