India: 50% of Delhi public employees to WFH

This proposal was made by the revenue department to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) as a risk-management measure to counter the spread of COVID-19 and has been approved by DDMA.  

Delhi chief secretary and DDMA executive committee chairman Vijay Dev said: “All government offices shall function with officers of the level of grade 1/equivalent and above to extent of 100% strength. The remaining staff will attend up to 50% as per requirement till December 31 or till further order.” 

The city’s revenue minister, Kailash Gahlot, said that 50% of employees below Grade I officers – IAS, DANICS and those promoted to equivalent rank – would work from home and the roster would be decided by the respective heads of departments. 

However, the new WFH rules will not apply to those working in the essential services, including health and family welfare and related medical establishments police, prisons, home guards, civil defence, fire and emergency services, district administration, pay and accounts office, electricity, water and sanitation, disaster management and related services. 

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The Delhi government, which has an estimated staff strength of 250,000 across 150 departments, had implemented a similar policy during the national lockdown, but the order was relaxed from July after the lockdown was eased, said The Times of India.