14 Karnataka departments’ staff resume work amid lockdown

Bengaluru: Employees of 14 Karnataka government departments dealing with essential services resumed work at their offices amid the extended lockdown, an official said on Thursday.

“As directed by the Chief Secretary, employees of all the 14 departments involved in essential services and supplies to the coronavirus-hit people have reported for duty again at their offices in the state…,” a state Personnel Department official told IANS here.

During the 21-day lockdown since March 25 to April 14, the employees stayed at home and some of them even worked as advised in the absence of private and public transport services in cities and towns across the state.

“Employees with vehicles have been given police pass for commuting to their offices from home and a bus pass for others to travel in special buses arranged to pick and drop them from their nearest bus stop, as autos and taxis are not allowed to operate till May 3,” said the official.

In compliance with the Union Home Ministry’s new guidelines issued on Wednesday to strictly enforce the 19-day extended lockdown till May 3, the state employees are wearing a mask, sitting 3-4 feet away from each other to maintain social distancing and washing and sanitising their hands.

Among the departments are Health and Family Welfare, Education, Home, Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Urban Development, Transport, Energy, Finance, Forest, and Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.

“Heads of other departments have also resumed work at the state secretariat and district offices across the state to coordinate work with the employees of the 14 departments, the official added.

Physically challenged or visually impaired and those unwell have been exempted from reporting to their office.

The administrative order is applicable till April 19 and will be reviewed on April 20.