No temperature check, use of sanitisers at Chandigarh offices

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7

With no temperature checking and mandatory use of sanitisers, it is a free run for public at government offices, including the UT Secretariat, Municipal Corporation office, UT Police Headquarters and Education Department.

Though an employee of the UT Education Department recently tested positive for Covid-19 and the department area was closed, the authorities apparently continue with their irresponsible attitude.

Being public offices, a number of residents and staff visit these every day without any proper checking.

When the correspondent visited the Sector 9 UT Secretariat, there was no temperature checking at the entrance gate (public parking side). Even while entering the building where guards sit, no sanitisers were provided. Similar was the scene at the adjacent Education Department and UT Police Headquarters.

Though sanitisers were kept at a few places, officials on duty were barely keeping a check on if people were using them.

At the MC office in Sector 17, temperature checking was being done at one of the buildings, but another building had no such provision. As both buildings are connected, testing at just one of them defeats the purpose.

A visitor is offered sanitiser only if he/she asks for it.

Baljinder Singh Bittu, Chairman, Federation of Sectors’ Welfare Association of Chandigarh (FOSWAC), said: “The authorities are asking people to take precautions and follow norms, but they are lazy when it comes to self-implementation. It must be ensured that each person who enters the offices should be checked. Can’t the officers keep a check on it. How do they remain unaware of it?”

“I visited the Secretariat a few days ago. There was no temperature testing or sanitisation being done by the staff at the entrance. One person can infect many. It is simply a lackadaisical attitude of the authorities,” lamented RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, a senior citizen’s body.

Meanwhile, Manoj Parida, UT Adviser, said: “Though we have asked the staff at the offices to do temperature checking and use sanitisers, we will get it checked if it is not being followed.”