Grievance before COVID Monitoring Committee Member

Dated : 29/03/2020

To
Shri Mohammed Tabraiz
Member, Court Monitoring Committee
(COVID GoI SOP implementation related matter)
By email : mttabraiz@gmail.com

Sir

Being a concerned citizen, I consider it my responsibility to bring the problems faced by fellow men rendering their service during the covid lock-down. I am therefore submitting the following few lines before you.

Let me come straight to the point, according to the MHA NDMA Order # 4-30/2020-DM-I(A) dated March 24, 2020 Private Security Service has been exempted from closure (See annexure to the MHA NDMA Order, Point # 4 (j)).

As such a good number of personnel employed as private security guards are rendering service amid the corona lockdown. They mostly come from remote locations and security service being a 24X7 affair, are often required to report for duty during odd hours. Similarly they get relieved off from duty again during odd hours.

Due to non availability of transport, these security guards are facing extreme hardships while reporting and after relieved off from duty. Frequency of state run transport busses are to the bare minimum and when they ply take only 15 passengers restricted to government employees on duty. Moreover the limited number of seats (15 only) in these busses mostly gets occupied within the first few stops. Therefore those standing on the roadside beyond the first few stops do not stand a chance to get accommodated on such busses. For the matter of record, all kind of private transport including auto, taxi and busses has also been ordered shut. The problem got compounded since the petrol pumps across the islands have been ordered shut for general public effective from the midnight of 19/03/2020. Therefore the hapless security guards have no option but to walk long distances during the day and night as well.

Some of the security guard even reported that Police is insisting for specific COVID-19 identity cards. Those not in possession of such ID cards are harassed and not allowed to even walk to their work place.

It is worth mentioning that, ANIIDCO run petrol pump is operational but dispensing fuel only to those government officials who are able to produce specific pass issued by designated officer of A&N Administration.

Of late, seeing the problems faced in getting fuel permits the Administration in a specific order said Medical Personnel/employees of health department need not apply for specific permit and they are now issued fuel on production of departmental identity card. See letter # F No 1-1/PS to Secy FY/S&T/Tpt/COVID/2020/60 dated 27/03/2020.

Coming to the point, since security guards are not government employees as such, them despite rendering service to government establishments, they neither are allowed to board state run transport busses nor their case is being considered for issuance of petrol. I approached the designated Nodal Officer (HSD and POL Distribution) through WhatsApp, but the officer declined to issue petrol directly to private persons. (see the screen shot of WhatsApp chat).

Now the point is since Private Security Service has been exempted from closure, those employed as private security guard, obviously need to commute to their workplace. However their employment status being private and odd duty hours place them in such a disadvantageous position that they are not able to avail state run transport service for reasons elaborated in above paras. I therefore feel plight of such security guards rendering 24X7 Service amid this coronal lockdown need to be considered for issuance of fuel, in line with exemption given to hospital employees.

Thanking You
Yours faithfully

Debkumar Bhadra
(a concerned citizen)

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