Calcutta, Oct. 10: The Bengal government today included Chhath puja as a general holiday for its employees, modifying an earlier notification that mentioned the festival as a sectional holiday.

Sectional holidays are declared for a certain group of government employees. Until now, only those employees whose places of origin are in Bihar and Jharkhand were entitled to leave on Chhath puja.

Employees were divided over the decision. While some welcomed the move, others said it would do little to improve the work culture in Bengal.

"I don't see any logic behind converting a sectional holiday into a general holiday, except giving 9 lakh state government employees another workless day.... Announcing more leaves ruins the work culture," said a senior state government official.

Since the Trinamul Congress came to power in Bengal in 2011, the state government has added at least 10 holidays for employees, which include a leave on New Year, the day after Dol Jatra, four additional leaves before and after Durga Puja, an additional day each for Lakshmi puja and an Kali puja.

A minister, however, pointed out that work culture in Bengal had improved as government offices functioned normally during bandhs called by political parties.

"During the Left Front regime, all these bandhs were undeclared holidays.... A few additional holidays bring better output from the employees. So, additional leaves don't much to do with restoration of work culture," the minister added.

"It appears that the chief minister wants to keep the employees happy with additional leaves.... But we won't mind working hard if we are given the due dearness allowance and a new pay structure is announced for us," said a leader of the Congress-led employees' union.