Pregnant, vulnerable govt staff exempted from duty

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1

Amid the second wave of Covid, the Haryana Government on Saturday said it had decided that employees with severe disabilities, vulnerable persons and pregnant women should not be called for duty, even if they are engaged in essential services.

According to the decision, if required, they can work from home provided they have the necessary infrastructure. This exemption will remain in force till further orders.

An official spokesperson said keeping in view the prevailing situation due to the pandemic and with an aim to break the infection chain and safety of persons of certain categories, the government had issued detailed preventive measures for the protection and safety of persons with disabilities (divyangjan), vulnerable persons and pregnant women.

The spokesperson said employees of the age of 50 years or above, and those suffering from hypertension, blood pressure, heart or lung disease, cancer and other chronic diseases, who were at high risk of developing a serious illness, should not be exposed to any frontline work requiring direct contact with the public. Similarly, all pregnant women employees whether regular, contractual, outsourced, daily wage or ad-hoc were advised to work from home.

He said as there was a surge in the number of Covid cases, it was imperative to put in place strict measures to prevent the virus from spreading. Therefore, these instructions might be brought to the notice of all persons concerned for strict compliance.

A letter in this regard has been sent to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments and commissioners of all divisions in Haryana, deputy commissioners, MDs/chief administrators of boards/corporations and registrars of all the universities.