Life for Assam government employees will never return to pre-lockdown days as they resume their duties from Tuesday.

From a ban on chewing gutka to no-spitting in office to keeping their faces covered and frequent handwashing, the employees will also have to strictly practice social distancing at the workplace and in the canteen, as part of the coronavirus-induced “dos and don’ts”.

Dispur has ordered partial resumption of functioning of different departments from Tuesday with a maximum 33 per cent attendance. The divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and subdivisional officers have been asked to ensure the attendance of 33 per cent grade II, III and IV employees for the smooth functioning of offices.

A section of employees admitted that most of the dos and don’ts will become a part of their existence, coronavirus or no coronavirus.

According to the order to operationalise government functioning to ensure delivery of public services, work at all departments at the secretariat will resume from Tuesday.

It said that to ensure the compliance of Centre’s directions for maintenance of sanitisation and hygiene, including social distancing, every employee has to compulsorily wear face masks.

“There will be no gathering of five or more persons in close proximity and spitting in office and outside is completely banned. There should be a strict ban on the use of gutka, tobacco etc… workplaces shall have adequate arrangement for temperature screening and sanitiser. Frequent cleaning of common surfaces and hand washing will be mandatory and social distancing shall be maintained in the office canteen,” the order said.

Though it also pressed for proper sanitisation of lifts, officials/employees were also asked to avoid using them as much as they can and instead take the staircase. Transportation facility has been also planned for secretariat employees.

The state government has also asked the heads of offices to draft a duty roster for employees till May 3. “The officers/employees who will be at home on a particular day according to the roster drawn up should be available on telephone, mobile phone and electronic means of communication at all times. The period of working from home shall not be treated by the official or employee as leave. They should attend office if called for any exigency or work,” the order said. However, the offices and employees engaged in essential and emergency services and those directly engaged in Covid-19 work will continue to work at full strength.

Hailing the decision to resume office work, Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) president Basab Kalita said, “The lockdown has stalled all government work for almost a month now. If it continued, it would have left a severe impact on the state’s growth and development in the coming days. Therefore, it’s a wise decision to resume partial work by maintaining necessary precautions. We also demand that the government carry out sanitisation of all office campuses before opening them.”