PMO note to ministers suggests Christmas could be a working day for government departments

New Delhi: If a consensus is arrived at among the ministers, Christmas this year may well become a working day for BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is learnt to have sent out a wish list to the ministers saying they consider making Christmas, which also happens to be former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 90th birthday and has already been declared as Good Governance Day, a working day for the Centre.

Sources said the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is likely to send out a circular suggesting the activities for the government departments on Christmas. The circular may recommend the departments to organize events like visiting sensitive areas or carrying out cleanliness drives, the sources said.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani had courted controversy over a circular by Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) asking all its schools to observe December 25 -- Christmas day -- as 'Good Governance Day' that led to an uproar in Parliament.

While Irani maintained that schools would remain closed on that day, Congress threatened to move privilege motion against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Irani, alleging that they had misled the Parliament over circulars issued to schools for events on December 25.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities across the country to observe December 25 as 'Good Governance Day' amid the controversy over organising events on the occasion which requires physical presence of students in campus on Christmas.

However, in communication sent to all vice chancellors, UGC has made it clear the competition on oratory be organised before the universities and colleges go for Christmas vacation.

"A competition on oratory be organised in such a manner that it does not disturb the Christmas holidays and all activities regarding this must be completed before the Christmas break of colleges and universities under your jurisdiction," it said. The communication, though, does not mention about a seminar in connection with the observance of the 'Good Governance Day', a communication on which has been sent by the Ministry to all central universities.