With ‘bare minimum staff’, Goa govt offices to open on Wednesday

Murari Shetye | TNN | Updated: Apr 13, 2020, 16:43 IST

Representative image

PANAJI: State government offices, which are set to open on Wednesday, will function with bare minimum staff, and heads of departments (HoDs) have been empowered to decide who is to be called in to work.
“We will open offices on Monday so that cleaning and sanitation are taken up,” said chief minister Pramod Sawant, adding that 50% of state government staff are already working on the field, and do not need to go to office. The ones who are already working are engaged in various Covid-19-related duties such as monitoring camps and persons who have been quarantined, ensuring supplies of essentials, etc.
Late on Sunday, the state government issued a circular stating that all HoDs must ensure employees are called to office on alternate basis in such a way that not more than 50% of the total staff strength shall be at office at any given time — the rest will work from home. It also said that those who work from home must be available on telephone and electronic modes of communication at all times. “They should attend office if called for and if any exigency of work demands,” it says.
Sawant said that staffers of departments that need to be functional — and not all government staff — will be asked to join duty. Departments that “need to be functional” include those like civil supplies and health, Sawant said. “Staff of departments such as art and culture and others that don’t have work to be executed won’t be called in.”
Sawant said that social distancing will strictly be maintained in government offices, and on April 15, proper guidelines in this regard will be issued. Later, the government circular said that all departments must ensure hand sanitisers, handwash, basins and running water supply, and encouraged employees to use masks.
The CM, when asked about public transport for government employees to go to work, said, “Buses will ply during office hours in the morning and evening”.
While government offices will open, departments have been requested to instruct staff to remain home if they have cough, cold, fever, or shortness of breath, and to take appropriate medical care through government doctors.
The late-night circular is also applicable to offices engaged in essential and emergency services, and shall remain in force till April 30.