Raipur: Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases across the state, the government on Tuesday allowed 50% of its employees below the level of Under Secretary to work from home, according to a Personnel Ministry order. “Physical attendance of government servants below the level of Under Secretary shall be restricted to 50 per cent of the actual strength and the remaining 50 per cent shall work from home,” the order said.
Persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees have been exempted from attending the offices, the order read. It further said that the state government officers/staff will have to follow staggered timing to avoid overcrowding in the offices. All the officers/staff residing in Covid containment zones have also been exempted from coming to office till containment zones are de-notified, it said in the order issued to all state government departments. Earlier, the state has suspended marking of biometric attendance for all its employees till January 31st, as a precautionary measure to check the spread of coronavirus.
However, all the employees are required to mark their attendance in attendance registers to be maintained manually, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. However, officials and staffers, who are not attending office and are working from home, will remain available on the mobile phone and through other electronic means of communication at all times. In view of the rapid spread of the virus, Singh said that a DoPT memorandum has been issued with the advice that the official meetings shall be conducted as far as possible through video conferencing. Similarly, personal meetings with visitors are to be avoided, unless absolutely necessary.