No. P3NFPE-Odisha/04 - 03/2020
Dated at Bhubaneswar the 16th March, 2020
To
Col. Jaleswar Kanhar, IPos
Chief Postmaster General
Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar
– 751 009
Sub:- Preventive Measures in connection with Novel
Corona Virus (COVID-19) - reg
Respected
Sir,
We
would like to bring your kind notice that while different guidelines are being
issued by different authorities for taking preventive measures in connection
with Corona Virus, the Department has just posted a flyer in India Post website
for ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ on 09.03.2020.
However,
the staff members working in Post Offices are coming across several circulars
from DoPT and UIDAI with contradictory guidelines.
While
DoPT vide its O M F No. C – 13014 / 1 / 2020 – Vig, Dated 06.03.2020 (Copy
enclosed for kind reference) has directed all the Ministries / Departments to
exempt employees to mark biometric attendance in Aadhaar Based Biometric
Attendance System (ABBAS) till 31st
March, 2020, UIDAI has issued the following guidelines vide its letter No. 4
(4) / 57 / 122 / 2012 . UIDAI-Pt., Dated 12.03.2020 for operation of Aadhaar
Centres (Copy enclosed for kind reference) in contradiction to the above instructions of
DoPT.
1.
All
Enrolment Centre premises as well as devices shall be sanitized daily.
2.
All
operators and other staff at the Enrolment Centre shall follow appropriate
hygiene practices such as washing hands regularly.
3.
The
staff shall avoid touching their eye/ nose/ mouth while working.
4.
The
residents visiting Enrolment Centre shall also be encouraged to wash their
hands with soap and water before using the biometric devices.
5.
The
operator shall clean the biometric devices after every enrolment/update.
6.
Any
staff member suffering from cold, cough, sneezing, etc. may not be allowed to
continue Aadhaar operations, till he/she gets healthy.
7.
If
any visitor is suffering from fever, cough and difficulty breathing, he/ she
may be advised to come back after they are well.
8.
The
Centre Manager shall not permit crowding at the center and promote online
appointment at all centres.
9.
Every
Enrolment Centre shall display advisory for residents as per the template
provided by UIDAI.
It
is regretted that while the above circular of DoPT has not circulated to the
grass root level, the guidelines of UIDAI have been circulated to all concerned
vide Circle Office eMail dated 13.03.2020.
The
Department is well aware of the conditions / financial power of the Post
Offices / Postmasters. While maximum Post Offices are deprived of the basic
amenities like water supply and lavatories and the SPMs/Postmasters of such
Post Offices have either no financial power or limited financial power (Rs.30/-
or Rs.60/-), the above guidelines of
UIDAI and ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ instructed by the Department are very difficult to
implement.
Further,
during the recently concluded Circle Working Committee meeting of AIPEU Postman
& MTS, Odisha Circle branch in Bhubaneswar on 15.03.2020 which has been participated
and addressed by this Circle Secretary as the Chairman, NFPE Odisha State CoC, it
has been brought to our notice that many Divisional / Sub-Divisional Heads /
IPPB authorities are threatening the grass root level employees for forceful
opening of IPPB Accounts on the plea of achieving targets which is highly
unappreciable in the present scenario. Similarly, we have also noticed that
customers are avoiding our delivery staff moving with PMA and misbehaving in
rude voice when requested for mobile signature.
In
this connection, we have come across a letter the letter No. SMG/J/Misc/Dlgs,
dated 12.03.2020 of the SPOs, Shivamogga Division – 577 202 (Copy enclosed for
kind reference subject to verification of authenticity) has instructed basing
on a message of its R O to all PMs / SPMs of his Division for purchase of
dettol / hand wash with sanction of Rs. 100/- to Rs.1000/- from ‘C’ Class S O
to HO for taking preventive measures in connection with COVID-19.
As
aware, nearly 100 people have been reported in the meantime as the victim of
the virus and India has already witnessed three death cases in this regard so
far. Both the Govt. of Odisha and Govt. of India have already declared COVID-19
as State and National Disaster. In Odisha, we are regularly noticing admission
of affected people in SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack and Capital
Hospital, Bhubaneswar. The State Govt.
has issued orders to close down Shopping Malls, Cinema Halls and imposed
several restrictions on temples, Schools/colleges/other educational
institutions and tourist places with directions to remain in a preparatory mood
for next six months. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the entire
district of Ganjam in Odisha and such restrictions and precautions are continuing
one after another to protect the life of the citizens.
Since
the virus is spreading rapidly day by day and not being controlled, we should
be very specific in this regard that if proper arrangement on providing
suitable protective measures are not made for all postal employees in general
and for those who are working in Sorting / Delivery Branches / Hubs, PO
Counters and the field officials in particular, they may be the victims of this
hazardous virus.
Under
the circumstance, we would like to request to consider the following
suggestions and to instruct all Divisional / Regional / Unit Heads accordingly
at the earliest.
1.
To issue clear departmental guidelines without
any contradictions for taking preventive measures in connection with COVID-19.
2.
To stop functioning of Aadhar Centres, delivery
through PMA and opening of IPPB Accounts and to exempt employees to mark biometric
attendance wherever available till restoration of normalcy.
3.
To stop conducting PLI/RPLI/SB Melas in the name of achieving targets and also
to stop holding of all local Workshops and Training Programmes.
4.
Not to send the recently recruited officials to
the cadre of PAs / SAs for induction training to any PTC.
5.
To supply adequate hygienic materials viz.
sanitizers, soaps, masks, gloves to all POs and RMS Offices or to instruct all
the SPMs/Postmasters/RMS Units to purchase the required items as per their
needs.
Expecting your
kind response and early action, Sir.
With regards.
Attached : As above.
Yours faithfully,
(Bruhaspati Samal)
Circle Secretary
Copy for information and necessary action to the Secretary General,
NFPE, North Avenue P O building, New Delhi – 110 001. As noticed, no action has
yet been taken on NFPE’s letter No. PF/Misc/2020, dated 13.03.2020 addressed to
the Secretary (Posts). He is requested to expedite the case at Directorate
level. Any kind of delay in this sensitive matter may be highly dangerous to
life of the employees.
(Bruhaspati Samal)
Circle Secretary
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