In response to questions on the State Government’s decision on Friday to remove as many as 10 senior IAS officers from Covid-19 duties, the Government on Saturday said that during the changing situation, it was needed to send the bureaucrats back to their respective departments.
State Government Covid-19 Chief Spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said the situation warrants a long-drawn fight against the coronavirus; and as per a considered strategy, many officials had been assigned the Covid-19 duties. However, the officials are now taken back to their respective departments as per the demand of the situations.
“Many officials were reinstated in their department yesterday. Otherwise, the administration will face difficulties to function. Secondly, if new fighters (officers) are not brought to this battle against the deadly virus, everyone will get tired,” Bagchi added.
Urging people not to trust rumours on social media or fake news, he asked them to have faith on the Chief Secretary’s message issued on Friday praising the dedication and sincerity of the officials involved in the Covid-19 duties.
“The rumours or fake news might create trouble for Covid-19 warriors ranging from panchayat to district administration and police to Secretariat employees and demoralise them,” he added.
Notably, questions have been raised in various quarters about the withdrawal of senior officials from Covid-19 duties and attributing alleged involvement of some bureaucrats in corruption in the purchase of PPEs and Covid-19 testing kits as the reason behind the Government’s decision.