Thursday, July 16, 2020

Retired staffers, pregnant women called for virus duty

Retired staffers, pregnant women called for virus duty

Bengaluru:

Current and former employees of public institutions providing non-essential services are upset about the state government’s decision to press them into Covid-related tasks without considering their age or health status.

Using data from the Election Commission, local bodies have randomly asked employees who were on duty during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to join boothlevel committees being formed to conduct contract tracing and monitor Covid-19 patients. These employees include college lecturers. “The government has every right to summon us in this time of crisis, but it should at least consider our age and health status. Otherwise, it will only lead to problems,” said V Sidde Gowda, a member of the state government employees’ association. Gowda has comorbidity.

People with pre-existing conditions are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19. Medical education minister K Sudhakar had earlier said that government employees aged over 50, suffering from comorbidity or with disability will be exempted from Covid-related work. Despite his clarification, staffers of government institutions have been roped into booth-level task force committees. Notices to report for training and duty have been sent to even employees who retired in 2019, pregnant women and those with comorbidities. “Staff members with physical disability have also been asked to fall in line,” claimed a member of the association.

A retired assistant professor of the University of Agricultural Sciences received a text message to join training. He is 63. Another lecturer, from Government Arts and Science College, said: “I suffer from acute diabetes and hypertension. Does the government really want me to attend training?” When some asked BBMP officials for an exemption, they were told to find a replacement.

Sudhakar said he would look into the issue: “I don’t know why they have picked government employees randomly. They should have verified their age and health status before summoning them for training. I will ensure that norms are followed.” Full report toi.in

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