While some business leaders like Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and L&T’s S N Subrahmanyan have sparked debate by suggesting young Indians should work 70 to 90 hours a week, the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) has taken a different approach. In its second report, GARC recommends shorter working hours for government employees, with new office timings from 9:30 am to 5:10 pm—cutting about an hour from the current schedule. The aim is to support a better work-life balance. This change, however, will not apply to educational institutions.
In its second report, GARC has outlined 10 citizen-centric recommendations under the banner of ‘Government at Your Doorstep’, emphasising the use of digital technology to improve public service delivery. The report was presented to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday.
Among the key proposals is a push to develop user-friendly government websites that offer a smoother and more secure digital experience. The commission has stressed the need for improving the quality, accessibility and safety of both websites and mobile apps.
Another major focus is on revamping the Citizen Charter. GARC has suggested setting defined timelines for service delivery, integrating grievance redressal mechanisms, and ensuring greater accountability from government departments.
The commission has recommended creating a single sign-on platform for all government services. This would allow citizens to access benefits from various schemes and programmes through one unified portal.
A standout suggestion is the implementation of QR code-based verification for government-issued certificates, which would help curb fraud and streamline authentication.
The report also proposes an expansion of the existing SWAGAT platform, aiming to integrate all grievance redressal systems into one comprehensive, citizen-centric portal.
To ensure seamless transition and knowledge retention within the bureaucracy, GARC recommends a ‘Knowledge Transfer Protocol’. Under this system, all employees whether retiring or being transferred – would be required to submit a formal document outlining key responsibilities, insights, and procedures for their successors.
In a bid to demystify the workings of various departments, the commission suggests that each government office produce multimedia content under the “Know Your Department” initiative. These would explain departmental functions in a simple, engaging format for the general public.
astly, GARC emphasized the importance of using social media more effectively. It recommended that government departments regularly post updates, success stories, infographics, and videos on their official platforms to improve transparency and public engagement.
The report was presented to the Chief Minister by GARC Chairman Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, along with Commission members, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, and Member Secretary Hareet Shukla.astly, GARC emphasized the importance of using social media more effectively. It recommended that government departments regularly post updates, success stories, infographics, and videos on their official platforms to improve transparency and public engagement.
The report was presented to the Chief Minister by GARC Chairman Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, along with Commission members, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, and Member Secretary Hareet Shukla.