Haryana to seal borders

BLURB Only emergency transport to be allowed

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23

Extending the lockdown imposed yesterday in Haryana’s seven districts, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said that beginning tomorrow, all inter-state borders would be sealed. Keeping in view the hardships faced by the less privileged, he announced relief measures for those hit by the measure. The state has set up Haryana Corona Relief Fund and urged industrialists and others to contribute liberally.

Addressing a ‘digital press conference’, here, Khattar said no public transport, including buses, taxis, and autos, would be allowed to operate during the lockdown. Only emergency transport would be allowed for hospitals while all supply chains for essential commodities would be maintained.

The Chief Minister announced Haryana COVID Relief Fund with a personal contribution of Rs 5 lakh. All MLAs, he said, would donate a month’s salary.

“This fund will provide assistance to those who are economically affected by the situation. The All-India Services Officers would contribute 20 per cent of their salary while all other government employees, other than Group D, will contribute 10 per cent,” the CM said, adding that voluntary contributions and those under CSR from any industry/business were welcome too.

He announced free ration for April for all BPL families, dry ration to schoolchildren and those enrolled in anganwadis, option for vendors to enrol on a portal at DC’s office for assistance of Rs 1,000 per week and a similar amount for families registered under Mukhyamantri Parivar Samridhi Yojna.

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Punjab first to declare curfew

BLURB Skeletal staff in the govt offices across state

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today ordered a state-wide curfew. The government has decided to further scale down its staff in government offices.Heads of departments have been asked to prepare the duty roster of bare minimum Group B,C and D employee for running essential services. The staff would report for work till April 5. The orders do not cover the departments running essential services like the police, health, transport and food and supplies.

The government had on Friday last decided to reduce the employee strength in government offices to 50 per cent. The state’s Personnel Department has asked all Administrative Secretaries, DCs and the Registrar of Punjab and Haryana High Court to follow the guidelines.

The orders are not applicable to Group A officers, employees handling emergency services and those directly engaged in initiating measures to combat Covid-19.

“Alternative attendance to office cannot be construed as holiday. As it is treated as working day, each staff member should be available at their respective residences and should respond to calls from office. As the arrangement made is on the lines of ‘work from home’, employees should not leave the headquarters or make themselves unreachable by switching off phones, refusing to come or come late to the office,” the orders read.