The news of a senior IAS officer testing corona positive on return from Srinagar is not only demoralising for the others but also raises a finger of doubt on the administration as far as adherence by senior officers to SOPs and guidelines issued by it is concerned stated Brig Veteran Anil Gupta, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party. While the administration is sparing no effort to effectively manage the deadly pandemic in the UT, there is growing concern among the public about certain arbitrary decisions taken by the officials and non-adherence to the official guidelines by them.
In the instant case, restriction regarding intra-state travel to designated red zones, protocol of administrative quarantine on arrival till the result of blood sample is known and avoiding physical meetings have been clearly violated. What was the compelling reason for the official to travel to Srinagar, why did he not remain in administrative quarantine on arrival from Srinagar till the report of the blood sample was received and last but not the least why did he attend a meeting physically which he could have joined virtually if inescapable? Now that he has tested positive, many other senior bureaucrats, officers and health officials have been forced into a quarantine upsetting the entire administrative and health workers machinery that is actively involved in daily rising numbers of corona positive patients asserted Brig Gupta.
Prevention is better than cure. Elsewhere in the country the state and central government as well as the corporate world is resorting to virtual meetings, where is the need to hold physical meetings and conferences in our UT? The government in its order dated April 17 had clearly instructed all administrative secretaries to put in place a robust online/electronic video conferencing / other communications at Jammu & Srinagar to ensure virtual offices.
Physical meetings and conferences not only are uneconomical but also keep the officers away from their place of work for large hours disrupting their professional duties. It is clear that government is violating its own directive by holding such meetings rued Brig Gupta. The administration must insistto hold only video conferences unless inescapable where physical attendance cannot be avoided suggested Brig Gupta.
In view of Lockdown 5.0 being extended up to 30 June in containment zones and increasing number of corona victims in Kashmir, the government needs to quell all fears among the employees who form part of Durbar Move by announcing abandonment of the move for this year. There appear to be very slim chances of reversing the trend in Kashmir in the near future. The situation has only worsened and there has been no change in the extraordinary circumstances caused due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In view of the same, the uncertainty that prevails due to the earlier announcement of “formal opening of Durbar at Srinagar will take place on 15 June,” needs to be removed by the government by announcing cancellation of Durbar move this year asserted Brig Gupta. Apart from saving much needed revenue by the administration it would reduce severe mental tension among the employees and their family members who are obviously worried of moving into areas gripped by the pandemic.