Bangalore:
If you work for the Karnataka state government, you had better put some thought into what you decide to wear to work in the morning. Men must wear a shirt and trousers or a pjyama-kurta, while women must stick to saris or churidars, according to a circular sent out to all employees.
The idea was mooted by senior employees who told their association president that young employees in particular were turning up to work in what they considered inappropriate clothing. They say the code is nothing new, just a reminder of existing rules that they say will help improve concentration on work.
"There should be no transparent clothing. Otherwise fellow employees will get distracted and disturbed and work will not be possible," L Byrappa, President of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association told NDTV.
When we asked whether it was not the responsibility of workers to focus on their own work and not on what others were wearing, he said, "Sight is there for looking. We cannot say, don't look. So the look will go towards them and the government work will stop."
Many employees, the men and women doing what a Vidhana Soudha inscription describes as God's Work in the secretariat, welcomed the circular.
One employee, Surekha, told NDTV "If women wear jeans, I feel they will not get the same respect. If people wear decent clothes, bad things will not happen and nobody will look at them in a bad way."
Kavitha said, "When people see women in a sari they automatically give respect. But jeans...it may suit in an IT/BT company but here I feel saris look better."
But the circular mentions younger people in particular - and not all of them were enthusiastic about restrictions.
One young employee, Ayesha, said, "I don't like this at all. A dress code....they are thinking of implementing it so strictly. I feel instead, bring discipline to the work, not the dress. Whoever is working is working in the government, is mature - they are above 18 - so bring that discipline to work."
One former MLA, Vatal Nagaraj, turned up at the Vidhana Soudha in a blanket to protest against what he said were unnecessary restrictions.
He said, "Dress code itself is a crime. This is like bringing in military rule. This is a democracy."
So far no action is planned against those who defy the rules.