Samana college flouts 50% attendance norm

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 12

Six staff members of Public College, Samana, tested Covid positive during a random testing by the district health team on Saturday afternoon.

However, questions were being raised against the college and the district administration after it came to the fore that the entire teaching and non-teaching staff was called against the government ruling of 50 per cent employee attendance at the institution concerned.

As per the District Magistrate orders, issued on September 9, government offices will operate with 50 per cent staff strength till September end.

Disregarding the government’s guidelines, the college principal issued an order on September 9, wherein he asked the entire teaching and non-teaching staff to show up instead of abiding by the 50 per cent rule. Ironically, two days after the orders were issued, six college staff members were found infected with the disease.

College professors alleged that that the 50 per cent rule was not being followed. A college professor, on condition of anonymity, said, “It appears that the virus spread because 50 per cent rule was not followed by the college authorities.”

Meanwhile, Dr Satinder Singh, Senior Medical Officer, Samana, said the Health Department would sanitise college on Sunday. However, the college would work with 50 per cent staff from Monday onwards, he added. “We took 75 samples at the college on Saturday and six staff members, including four professors, tested positive for coronavirus,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Jatinder Dev, principal, Public College Samana, said, “We have been following government orders. I issued orders because the admission process was affected owing to a snag in online interaction with students. My sole purpose to call the entire staff to college for three days was to train them for online classes.”

“I have been cooperating with my staff and did not force anyone to come to college if he/she had any Covid symptoms,” he added.