The Gujarat government will spend ₹110 crore to install central air conditioning in all 14 blocks of the state Secretariat in Gandhinagar. The aim is to help government employees work better in rising temperatures.
This move follows recommendations from the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC), which said that extreme heat due to climate change is affecting employee health and productivity. Officials say a cooler working environment will help staff perform their duties more efficiently.
However, the decision has come at a time when the government is being criticized for slow services and long delays in work at the Secretariat. Many departments still have pending files and citizens often face delays.
At the same time, the Gujarat State Employees Union has asked the government to implement a five-day workweek with weekends off, citing employee welfare.
Critics argue that spending so much money on air conditioning isn’t right when over one crore people in Gujarat still live below the poverty line. In many rural areas, people spend less than ₹26 a day. Unemployment and homelessness remain big issues, and many still depend on government food supplies.
While the government says this upgrade is part of modernizing its offices, questions remain about whether it will really lead to better public service. There is no timeline yet for when the installation will be completed, but funds have reportedly been set aside.