Mamata Banerjee announces free rice for over 7 crore poor, 50% govt staff to work from office by rotation

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that around 7 crore people in the state who avail rice at subsidised rate of Rs. 2 will be given the rice free of cost for next six months. Similar initiative is being taken for the mid day meal scheme so that children depending on mid day meal continue to get the food in some way.

Speaking from state administrative headquarters Nabanna, Banerjee announced that 50% government staff would attend office for a week and the rest would remain home. The following week the duty would be reversed for the employees. The government is also trying to introduce work from home for those who are able to. All the employees may not have computers at home nor would their nature of work make it possible to contribute to work from home. All these aspects are being looked into while preparing duty rosters.

Banerjee also requested private companies to introduce similar system and reduce workforce in office by rotation apart from working from home as well as reducing work hours.

The government also introduced a state emergency relief fund to tackle the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Banerjee demanded that the Centre should stop all flights from abroad immediately instead of waiting till March 22 as she said that COVID-19 is primarily spreading in the country through people arriving from abroad.

Banerjee rued that the Centre is delaying the supply of necessary kits and other infrastructure to state needed to fight COVID-19. She announced that all healthworkers who are working overtime now will get special extended leave after the puja holidays this year.
She asked all those arriving from abroad to quarantine themselves at home. Overall, she said that there is no reason to panic over Coronavirus