All government offices in Assam resumed functioning on Tuesday with 33 per cent workforce and strict lockdown norms, including sanitisation and social distancing, to check the spread of the coronavirus that has infected 34 persons in the state so far.
Employees at the secretariat were made to wash their hands and use sanitisers before entering the campus. Temporary washbasins were installed in front of the secretariat gate. At each block of the secretariat, provisions were made for thermal screening of the employees and health officials were deployed. Seating arrangements inside the offices adhered to social distancing norms. The government has asked all employees to practise social distancing in office canteen too and refrain from chewing gutka and spitting.
A health department memorandum on Tuesday emphasised mandatory use of face cover, maintaining hygiene and social distancing. It said meetings should be held by video conferencing only and asked employees to avoid gathering of five or more persons at any place. It asked the departments not to expose high-risk category employees (the elderly, pregnant women and those having underlying medical conditions) to “frontline work requiring direct contact with the public”.
Mamoon Baruah, a government employee, said, “A lot of work had been pending for almost a month now. While fighting Corona, we also have to take care of the government’s health, its finance, so that we can fight the virus.”
At least 16 buses were used to bring employees to the Dispur complex on Tuesday. However, employees returning home after attending duty alleged that the district administrations failed to arrange buses for them. Plying of private vehicles remained restricted in the city.
In a relief to people stuck in other districts, the government memorandum said, “If anyone is stranded in another district since the lockdown started he may not be asked to attend office till May 3.” The lockdown, which began on March 24 midnight, has been extended till May 3.
All officials holding the post of deputy secretary and above have to attend office at the secretariat. A maximum of 33 per cent employees of grade III and IV were allowed to attend offices and departments were asked to draw rosters for rotating the employees conveniently.
Basab Kalita, president of Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), an organisation of state government employees, backed the government’s efforts, “We urge all our colleagues to follow the protocols strictly and keep themselves and society safe,” he said.
The SAKP also suggested that the government make arrangements for proper hygiene in offices across the state and consider allowing employees having kids younger than five years, with physical disabilities or high diabetes, and pregnant women to work from home.
Sonowal directive
Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked all district deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to file updates on the Covid situation every third day, henceforth, and ensure smooth supply of essentials, price check and conduct awareness campaigns against the virus.
However, not everything was hunky-dory on Tuesday. Despite restrictions, many people were seen on the streets on two-wheelers or cars, taking advantage of the relaxation in restrictions. Police had announced that the relaxation was for resuming government functions but the people appeared to have misunderstood. Traffic police personnel seized many vehicles.
In Dibrugarh, similar scenes were observed. Additional superintendent of police Padmanav Baruah said they have started a crackdown on lockdown violators. “People should cooperate with us but some of them don’t understand and violate lockdown guidelines,” he said.
In hotspot areas like Dhubri district, the administration had clearly stated that no relaxation would be made. The district has four positive cases. These patients are undergoing treatment at Mahindra Mohan Choudhary civil hospital (MMCH) in Guwahati. The district also has four containment zones. The administration has permitted essential commodities shops to open between 10am and 4pm. However, random violation of lockdown norms was observed. Deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Trinayan Bhuyan said the biggest problem remains people’s “adventurism” as they are not used to sit at home.
Assam had not recorded any new Covid-19 case till the filing of this report. The last case was detected on Thursday. Out of the 34 positive cases reported in the state so far, 19 have been discharged and more are expected to be released soon. One patient had died.
Cash boost: In a boost to cash-strapped Dispur, the Union finance ministry has issued sanctions for April instalment of devolution of states’ share in central taxes and duties, amounting to Rs 46,038.10 crore for Assam.
Sarma, who holds the finance portfolio and had expressed doubts over payment of state government employees’ salaries for May because of the lockdown, thanked the finance ministry.
The donation to Assam Arogya Nidhi crossed Rs 100 crore on Monday night.
Sarma tweeted: “I join millions in extending our gratefulness to 46470 people whose generous donations helped us reach Rs 100.50 crores in Assam Arogya Nidhi. The one-day salary contribution of state govt employees made this happen faster. God bless you all.”
Additional reporting by Mukesh Kumar Singh in Dhubri and Avik Chakraborty in Dibrugarh
