Rajya Sabha Secreteriat partially resumes functioning on 27th day of lockdown

Sanitization of all vehicles entering the Parliament House complex including the annexe, screening of temperatures and checking the number of incumbents in each vehicle were undertaken as the first layer of safeguards on the first day of resumption of work.

This will continue as a norm until lockdown restrictions are in force.
Officials and staff waited in earmarked circles awaiting lifts to maintain social distance.

All officials and staff attended office with masks and many even with hand gloves besides all carrying their own water bottles and lunch boxes.

Rajya Sabha Secretary General Desh Deepak Verma, on the first day of resumption of work, firmed up the agenda of work for the lockdown period through video conferencing with 17 senior officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above.

The issues discussed and to be acted upon as preparatory work include; Oath taking by newly elected members of Rajya Sabha, planning a orientation programme for such members including preparation of 10 updated booklets in this regard for use of members, payment of salaries to members and employees of the secretariat, attending all other issues relating to members, preparation of a plan of action for reducing expenditure, finalizing retirement benefits for those superannuating, firming up action plans further to decisions taken earlier regarding major issues, transport deployment for picking up officials and staff staying far from office etc.

He asked senior officials to make maximum use of e-office in view of rational deployment of manpower.

Verma directed that all the norms regarding ensuring social distance and other safeguards like ensuring sanitation shall be ensured during the lockdown period besides deployment of manpower based on the need for transacting essential business.

About 100 of the total 1,300 personnel of the Rajya Sabha secretariat attended office on Monday as per the deployment plan on rotation drawn up by the concerned divisional heads.

As required, all officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above attended office on Monday.

Earlier, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said that he has asked the officials to transact core business that cant be deferred by deploying manpower accordingly in conformity with the spirit of norms of lockdown.

''I have asked the officials to transact core business that cant be deferred by deploying manpower accordingly in conformity with the spirit of norms of lockdown," Naidu said.

"Directions have been given to put in place all required safeguards to prevent contracting the virus. It began with sanitizing vehicles at points of entry into Parliament House and screening of body temperatures of inmates,'' the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.

''I appeal to all concerned to ensure such safeguards at workplaces including sites of economic activity as partial relaxation of lockdown began today,'' the Vice President said.