Pune: Days after coming under fire after videos of gift distribution inside PMC headquarters were circulated on social media, the city engineer’s office on Tuesday prohibited accepting gifts in civic offices.The directives specify that officers and employees shall not accept personal gifts, sweets, snacks, dry fruits, hampers, vouchers, or cash from contractors, developers, suppliers, consultants, citizens, or organisations. “Accepting such items conflicts with service principles. Bringing, accepting, or distributing gifts inside the main building, departmental offices, zonal offices, sub-offices, and office premises during office hours is prohibited,” said PMC (Pune municipal corporation) city engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar.Rule 12 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979, governs the acceptance of gifts by govt servants in the state of Maharashtra.Department heads shall inform subordinate officers and employees and ensure implementation and security department shall deny entry to people carrying gift items for distribution inside office buildings. Officers and employees found violating instructions will face disciplinary action under service and conduct rules, states the circular issued.Civic activists have welcomed the move, but say such a circular is a face-saving act after videos were widely circulated on social media. They have also raised security concerns about civic premises.“The administration must make sure that employees are sensitised. They should be urged and trained to follow ethical practices. The acceptance of gifts from people with vested interests is nothing less than corruption,” said Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch, a citizens’ group.
