PMC exempts differently abled staff from attending office during pandemic

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to exempt differently abled civic staff from attending office during the pandemic, but told them they should be able to report to office whenever they are called.

The state government had recently directed all government offices to exempt differently abled staff from attending office, saying it was difficult for such employees to report to work during the pandemic and the consequent restrictions on movement. The directive said such employees should be given the option to work from home.

“The PMC is exempting differently abled civic staff from attending office. The concerned head of the civic department should hand over specific work to them, which can be carried out while working from home. The administration should ensure that this exemption does not hamper office work,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Rubal Agarwal.

She said differently abled civic staff who were given exemption from attending office should not leave the civic jurisdiction. “It would be mandatory for them to report to office whenever called by their in-charge officer…,” said Agarwal.

Meanwhile, teachers of civic schools who are above the age of 50 have urged the administration to exempt them from Covid-related duties. The administration has been deploying civic school teachers in door-to-door surveys, administrative work at Covid care centres, vaccination centres, war room and ward offices.

The PMC has also been hiring staff on contract basis to carry out administrative work related to Covid-19 in the city. The civic body has lost nearly 50 employees to the infection till now. After a lackluster response from civic employees to vaccination, the PMC had warned that those not getting vaccinated will not be given the benefits of PMC’s medical insurance, if they are hospitalised for Covid-19.