More than 400 Parliamentary staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last couple of days. This is a cause of serious concern for the Government because the Budget Session of the Parliament is set to begin by the month-end.
With all the 400 personnel forced to quarantine themselves, the authorities are worried about how to manage the preparation of the Budget Session if the situation does not improve on the Covid-19 front.
The crucial Budget Session of Parliament begins in the last week of January each year. This entails a huge exercise for the Parliament as the entire system has to work round-the-clock.
“The customary joint address to the Parliament by the President of India before the Union Budget requires a month-long preparation as the minutest details have to be worked upon. But the Secretariat will leave no stone unturned for a smooth Presidential Address and presentation of the Union Budget” a Parliament Secretariat official said.
Out of the Covid-related isolated staff, 65 are from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 200 are from the Lok Sabha Secretariat and 133 belong to allied services.
As a precautionary measure, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has introduced a host of measures, including restricting the physical attendance of its staff after an emergency review meeting was conducted by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday. Similar directives have been issued by Speaker Om Birla, sources said.
As per the latest directions, 50 per cent of officials and staff below the rank of Under Secretary are required to work from home till the end of the month. They constitute about 65 per cent of the total employees.
The decision was taken at the meeting Naidu held with Secretary-General PC Modi and Adviser PPK Ramacharyulu.
Those with disabilities and pregnant women have been exempted from attending office. Starting and closing timings of the Secretariat are staggered to avoid crowding. All official meetings will be held virtually, Naidu instructed.