Under new system, govt offices to have 50 per cent staff from Monday

Government offices which are now functioning with 33 per cent staff will now work with 50 per cent staff from Monday and the key government departments including universities will now work on all Saturdays to clear the backlog, a government order issued by Chief Secretary K Shanmugham on Friday read.

The order clarified that government staff will now be segregated in two batches on weekly basis. Each batch will work for two consecutive days and then return to duty after two days. For example, the first batch will work on Monday and Tuesday. The same batch will return to duty again on Friday and Saturday. The second batch will then work on Wednesday, Thursday and then return to duty on Monday – Tuesday. This cycle will continue until further orders. The order will be applicable for all government offices ranging from Secretariat to district level offices covering corporations, welfare boards, societies, co operatives and universities, the order explained. However, the GO will not be applicable for containment zones, the GO read.

“As the third phase of lockdown will come to an end on Sunday new regulations and revised protocols for small industries, healthcare and local bodies are under revision. The State top brass had also heard the districtwise COVID special officers and district specific relaxations are likely by Monday,” a senior government official said.

According to Secretariat sources, Fort St George witnessed back to back meetings with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Chief Secretary K Shanmugham and other top officials holding review meetings and hearing to the expert opinions given by COVID Task Force and the expert panel committees formed to review the economy. The State top brass also reviewed the financial status of the state exchequer and it was reported that the relief contribution to CM Covid fund has reached Rs 367 crore mark.

The decision to open the state-run Tasmac liquor outlets was also taken on Friday moments after the Supreme Court stayed the order of Madras High Court ruling the closure of liquor outlets due to corona outbreak. However, the top officials who reviewed the status of public transport corporation took no concrete decisions and the lockdown for government buses and metro rail are to continue for few more days.

Earlier in the day, CM Palaniswami who inaugurated a webinar for industrialists said that the state was taking steps to reopen the economy and assured more relaxations in a phased manner. He also said 1,500 companies have started manufacturing corona related items like masks, PPEs, gloves and are catering to growing demand. He also said that the state had created a Rs 200 crore corpus loan for MSMEs and Rs 102 crores has been disposed for restarting the firms.