Central govt staff find it difficult to reach offices

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.04.2020

A good number of central government employees, mostly women, who do not have vehicles are finding it difficult to reach offices because public transport including buses, cabs and autos are not available.

As per rule, around 30% of employees have been told to work from office after the Union government announced relaxation of lockdown rules so skeletal staff could be used to operate government departments, public sector units and others. However, there was no specification on making provisions for arranging vehicles for employees.

Employees of postal department, airport, LIC, and accountant general’s office and income tax struggled for a week as there was no uniform policy on arranging transportation for employees who do not have private vehicles. While some of the offices like income tax department has got MTC buses on contract basis for their employees, many offices are yet to make arrangements.

Some of the airport officers used car pooling initially among colleagues. However, as the arrangement was not smooth AAI has offered work from home option.

"There is no uniform policy on transportation for central government employees. Each office is taking a decision on their own. The office is silent on arranging vehicles," said an LIC employee.

Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers (CGEW) have raised the need to offer transport for employees while insurance association is yet to raise the issue with LIC. M Duraipandian, general secretary of CGEW, said "The respective offices should arrange vehicles for employees. They cannot compel those without private vehicles to come."