Chandigarh again reduces staff at its offices in Secretariat

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7

After a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases, the UT Administration has again resorted to work with nearly 50 per cent employees in its offices at the Secretariat.

In an order, the Department of Personnel and Training, UT, stated that in order to maintain social distancing to contain the spread of Covid-19, officials will attend the office in the UT Secretariat alternatively up to July 31.

The order

In an order, the Department of Personnel and Training, UT, stated that in order to maintain social distancing to contain the spread of Covid-19, officials will attend the office in the UT Secretariat alternatively up to July 31.

The department also released a duty roster for the officers/officials to attend the office on the dates mentioned in it.

The department stated that the officers or branch in-charges of various departments, including technical, education, health, local government, judicial, personnel training and establishment, vigilance, accounts finance, labour and employment, cooperation, transport and stationery, estate, etc, would be at liberty to call employees irrespective of the duty roster on any working day or holiday in view of the exigency and urgency of the work.

The department stated that no employees would leave the station without a prior intimation to his or her branch in-charge.

The Administration took these steps after some employees of the Education Department tested positive for Covid-19 and the office of the department had to be sealed for two days to carry out sanitisation.

A senior official said the situation was still not conducive for government and private officers to work with full strength.

He said the Administration was also considering putting restrictions on public dealings in government offices.

UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore had yesterday desired that in government and private offices, only minimum staff should be called and others should be encouraged to work from home.

As many as 492 persons have so far tested positive for Covid-19 in the city. At present, there are 84 active cases in the UT.