Preventive meansures to be taken to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

F.No. Ref. No. AIACEGEO/Deptt.Comm./01/2020/01                              Dated : 18.03.2020

To

The Chief Commissioner,

CGST and Central Excise,

Vadodara Zone.

Sir,

            Subject : Preventive meansures to be taken to contain the spread of Novel                              Coronavirus (COVID-19) – regarding

            Needless to say that your honour is well apprised of the epidemic nature of COVID-19 and your honour must have instructed all Officers of Vadodara Zone to act swiftly to prevent and control it. Even DoPT has issued an OM No. 11013/9/2017-Estt.A.III dated 17.03.2020 on the captioned matter.

2.         We are aware that certain services rendered by our department comes within the scope of Essential Services under ESMA 1968 and thus it is not possible to limit our work to a great extent but as a responsible association, we would like to submit the following major preventive measures which may kindly be directed to be followed by all the formations under your jurisdiction :

(i)                Thermal scanners may kindly be got installed at the entry of all the CGST Offices.

(ii)              Despite our repeated requests hand sanitizers are yet to be provided by many formations and the basic amenities of hand-washers are not yet placed in the washrooms. Your honour may kindly issue a directive for urgent providing of the same. N-95 Masks may also be provided to the officers having public dealings.

(iii)            To the extent possible, audit, personal hearings, factory premises visits etc. may be ordered to be restricted to the minimum till 31^st March and if required even beyond this period.

(iv)            Meetings may be avoided till 31^st March and if urgently required these may be held through video conferencing. File works may be limited to the extent possible and these may got done through official email IDs.

(v)              Extra housekeeping persons may be employed with proper masks and equipments and they may be directed to do frequent cleaning and sanitization of the work-place and frequently touched surfaces like handles, nobs, washbasins etc.

(vi)            Leave may be granted liberally to any officer/staff who suffers from illness at least till 31^st March.

(vii)          Surat CGST Divisions and Ranges located in rented premises of very old Samruddhi Building are at high risk as it has other offices also in the same premises where too many visitors come frequently and also there is very poor sanitization in that building so officers/staff working in this building may got shifted to GST Bhavan at the earliest. It will not only save exchequers unwarranted expenses but also be a big relief to employees working in that building.

3.         We hope and have complete faith in your honour that our above suggestions are taken in positive light and urgent actions are initiated on this serious issue.

Yours faithfully,

-sd- 

(M.S. Prabhat)

General Secretary

Copy for information and necessary action to :

1.      The Principal Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad Customs.

2.      The Commissioner, CGST Surat, CGST Audit-Surat, CGST Daman

3.      VP/JS- of respective stations are requested to personally meet the concerned authority at their respective stations to get the necessary measures enforced immediately.