Secretariat staff in panic as more officials test +ve

Chennai

Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association appealed to the State government on Friday, seeking to bring back 35 per cent attendance at all government offices, claiming that many staff were vulnerable to the infection.

“Government offices in secretariat are functioning with more than 50 per cent staff and there are staff reporting to duty from containment zones in north Chennai,” Peter Anthonysamy, president, Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association told DT Next.

Earlier, the government had given exemption to those above 50 years with comorbid conditions and pregnant women. It should continue till the outbreak was contained, Anthonysamy said. The secretariat is being sanitised daily, but there is no restriction on staff coming from containment areas, he added.

The association members handed over a petition at the offices of the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary seeking their intervention. In addition, the staff have also made representation to the Ministry of Personnel and Administrative Reforms seeking exemptions.

“A senior IAS official belonging to the 2003 batch is now quarantined after testing positive. Last week, a government driver tested positive and succumbed to the virus. There is constant stress while reporting for duty,” said a senior woman official at Secretariat, adding that transportation for the employees was becoming an issue due to lack of drivers.

“About 40 per cent staff with comorbid conditions are put on leave and even IAS officials are managing without office assistants. Every day, more than 1,200 government staff visit the Secretariat,” added a senior official.