Circle Union writes to Chief PMG / NFPE on preventive measures to be taken for containing spread of COVID-19

No. P3NFPE-Odisha/01 - 07/2020

Dated at Bhubaneswar the 1^st July, 2020

To

            The Chief Postmaster General

Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751 001

Sub:-  Preventive measures to be taken for containing spread of COVID-19  – Suggestions regarding.

 

Respected Sir,

As aware, there has been a steady increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the nation for which both the Central Govt. and State Governments are frequently issuing several guidelines. More importantly, it is incumbent upon all Govt. offices to ensure that the requisite preventive and containment measures are implemented scrupulously. Since any COVID infection in a Govt. office has serious implications, which would, inter alia, compromise the ability of the Govt. machinery to fight this pandemic, Govt. Offices need to set the highest standard of preventive measures, which would serve as a model for others.

But, while we look at the post offices which are functioning with cramped accommodation, it is being witnessed that there is unexpected rush of customers after Unlock 1.0 and in spite of continuous motivation, the SPMs/Postmasters do fail to convince the customers for maintaining proper social distancing.  Similarly, in the available space of Aadhaar Enrolment and Updation Centres, rush of customers including children, Sr. Citizens and women is beyond expectation.

Contradictorily, the Post Offices have no such space inside the office to make suitable sitting arrangements for the customers especially to the Senior Citizens coming both for counter transactions and attending Aadhaar Centres including women and children. Secondly, manpower is a problem to open additional counter for expeditious disposal of the customers or to control the entry of customers to the Post Office. In addition sluggish connectivity is adding salt to the injury most of the time.

Further, with unlock 2.0, the Govt of Odisha vide its Order No. GAD-COOD-MISC-0001-2018-15287/Gen, dated 30.06.2020 has ordered that all the Departments and sub-ordinate offices shall perform official work with 50% of the employees strength in the month of July-2020 in view of sudden rise in infections in the State. Govt. of Odisha has declared weekend shutdown on each Saturday and Sunday till 31.07.2020 in 10 district namely Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jahrsuguda. Similarly, MHA, Govt. of India vide its Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-1(A), dated 29.06.2020 has reiterated additional directives for workplaces in Para-6 to 10 under Annexure-I with clear instructions for staggering of work / business hours, screening and hygiene, frequent sanitization and social distancing.

 As such, we would like to submit the following suggestions for immediate consideration to contain spread of COVID-19 and to save the lives of the staff and their family members.

1.    Temporary sitting arrangements for customers with provision of chairs, writing tables, fans and drinking water facility in the available space of the PO premises till restoration of normalcy.

2.    Supply of Thermal Scanners and Sanitization Machines to all POs with permission for purchase of required disinfectants and other preventive materials as and when necessary.

3.    Issue of metal or plastic tokens bearing serial number and name of the Post Office for supplying to the customers to avoid unnecessary rush in the available counter / public space of the Post Office.

4.    Deployment of a person on daily wage basis at the main entrance of the POs, especially in bigger offices with unexpected rush of customers for thermal scanning,  requesting / helping each customer to wash hands and to use sanitizer and for giving tokens to restrict entry of customers to the Counter Hall till restoration of normalcy since with the existing manpower, POs can’t do the same.  

5.    To close down all post offices in the 10 districts of Odisha Circle on each Saturday where weekend shutdown has been declared by the State Govt.

6.    To run the Post Offices with 50% staff as ordered by the Govt. of Odisha.

Therefore, it is requested to kindly consider the above aspects and issue suitable instructions to all Unit / Divisional / Regional Heads to save the life and family of our COVID warriors and to contain the spread of COVID-19.

With regards.

Yours faithfully,

(Bruhaspati Samal)

Circle Secretary

Copy for kind information and necessary action to Com. R N Parashar, Secretary General, NFPE, North Avenue P O Building, New Delhi – 110 001. This might be the position of all other Circles. He is requested to appraise the Directorate accordingly to issue necessary instructions to all HoCs.

(Bruhaspati Samal)

Circle Secretary