Lack of time sense at all levels is a major problem faced in Our country. No meeting starts at the designated time. Only a few officers are exception.

This attitude of people , especially officers wastes a lot of time of other people. There by precious man hours are wasted, otherwise it would have been utilized for utilitarian purposes. This is cause of casual attitude on the subject of the meeting. Attending persons generally shows disrespect, anger on the concerned organiser. Indians are viewed as in -disciplined persons by foreign countries. Lack of punctuality has become attitude.

One day I meditated on this issue. I wanted to tackle this issue, While I was Commissioner, Ramagundam Municipal Corporation. I thought of this problem several times. earlier, I thought I need to take a call on this problem. Everyone suffers, but no one would like to address.

Initially, I used to be on time for all meetings .I told my staff to attend the meetings on time.

At later stage ,if my staff attended the meeting 10 minutes after designated time, I made them to stand for a few minutes.
Last step I have taken was levying token penalties of 10 to 25 rupees on 6 or 7 persons for attending the meetings late.

Also, if I stuck in other meeting at higher officer or public representative, I use to postpone the meeting or I use to designate one officer to conduct the same meeting and joined the same meeting after some time.

Thus, I tried my level best to inculcate the punctuality in my staff in attending the meetings.

Everyone can maintain punctuality in meetings and other events, so that a lot of valuable time is saved. I know a officer, who starts the meeting with much punctuality is D.S.Lokesh Kumar sir, while he was Collector, khammam. Presently, he is the Commissioner, GHMC.
He use to plan very meticulously. Even if someone comes to meet him, he ask them to come after the meeting. A few times , I use to to be late by 5 minutes. Another reason for less number of visitors for ordinary days is because of attending the Grievance day scrupulously by him.

Also, prior planning of fairs and festivals and conducting preperatory meetings 2 months before the that activity is key for calmness. I feel that officers need to prepare diary of activities of a year at once to plan meticulously.

He used to delegate the works to the officers immediately and use to monitor them. All these activities allowed him free time to conduct meetings on time. Many things are intertwined in maintaining the punctuality by an officer, but it is not a impossible task. Where there is a wish, there is a will.

(I am dedicating this article to D.S.Lokesh Kumar,IAS , as i am inspired with his punctuality and vision. )