The Mamata Banerjee government has introduced two more holidays for its employees in 2015, a move that made many wonder whether the chief minister has reneged on her pledge to restore Bengal’s long-lost work culture.

The list of holidays for 2015, released by the finance department, mentions Holi (March 6) and the post-Kali Puja Pratipada (November 12), in addition to other occasions.

The new holidays will ensure that the employees will get two sets of holidays stretching four days.

“In Bengal we celebrate Doljatra, which falls on March 5 next year. Now that Holi has been declared a holiday, too, state employees will have four consecutive holidays as March 7 and 8 are Saturday and Sunday,” said a Nabanna official.

“Bhatridwitiya (Bhai Phonta) has been a holiday since Trinamul came to power. Now that Pratipada (the day before Bhatridwitiya) has been added to the list, we will again have four consecutive days of holidays as November 14 and 15 are Saturday and Sunday.”

The Trinamul government has announced several new holidays for its employees — such as Sashthi and Ekadashi of Durga Puja and an additional holiday each for Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja immersion.

The additional holidays on Mahasashthi and Lakshmi puja stretch the Puja holidays longer. This year the government employees enjoyed nine days of holidays at a stretch, from September 30 to October 8.

According to the finance department’s list, the government employees will enjoy at least 42 holidays next year, in addition to the Saturdays and Sundays.

“If you include the weekends, the count rises to 146. That leaves the year with only 219 working days,” said an official. “The government employees will enjoy an 11-day Durga Puja holiday next year, from October 17 to 27. October 17 is Saturday and Mahasashthi falls on Monday, October 19.”

The government has also announced some new sectional holidays, like Chhath Puja and Karam Puja.

The Trinamul government, soon after the change of guard, had announced that attempts would be made to restore Bengal’s lost work culture.

“During the Left Front rule, the offices remained open on some of the festive occasions but most employees stayed away. Now, the offices are closed officially,” said another official.

“Lengthening the list of holidays will only worsen Bengal’s already bad work culture.”

While employees are happy with the new list, a section of them wondered whether the move was aimed at compensating for the backlog in dearness allowance.

“The DA backlog is 49 per cent, compared with what central government employees get. If the government is trying to pacify us by announcing the additional holidays, it’s a bad move,” a finance department employee said.