CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS DEMAND URGENT INTERVENTION BY THE LABOUR MINISTER

           INTUC        AITUC         HMS     CITU      AIUTUC

         TUCC      SEWA       AICCTU       LPF       UTUC

                                                                                        Date: 1.04.2020

To

Shri Santosh Gangwar

The Minister for Labour and Employment,

Govt. of India

Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg

New Delhi - 110001 

                                                                       

Sir,

We the Central Trade Unions would like to draw your attention to the complaints/information/grievances being received by us from the workers, employees and our unions from all over India.   On our part we are doing whatever possible at our level in contacting the concerned officials of various government/state enterprises/institutions/ industries/sectors and the state & local administration for the redressal. Our unions and activists are also involved in the relief work despite constraints of movement.

However we are bringing to your notice for seeking your immediate intervention at your level.

At the outset  we would like to point out that we had raised several issues in our joint letter addressed to the Prime Minister on 26^th March 2020 (letter attached). We had demanded immediate announcement of strong statutory enforceable measures to arrest and put a ban on the ongoing spree of retrenchments, wage cut, forced unpaid leave etc being perpetrated by the employers on the workers, particularly contract/casual/temporary/fixed term workers in various establishments, particularly in private sector throughout the country to be enforced both by central and state governments. We are still regularly getting information of forced unpaid leave etc. including from NCR region. Appeal/Advisory by the  Govt, both the Labour Ministry and Home Ministry is not at all working at ground level to prevent loss of employment and earnings and also eviction from local residence in the process of lock down. We had detailed the demands about the immediate packages for various sectors of workers.

The experience of the past seven days unfortunately bears out our apprehensions. We give some instances:

            Employees manning essential services run in the public/government sector being stopped and detained by the police, in spite of their holding valid  Identity Cards issued by the concerned authorities, the contract/outsourced workers mostly not being provided any protective gear. Even the ASHA and Anganwadi workers who are working in the frontline in combating Corona are being tortured and manhandled in various states by Police and local miscreants with impunity.

A vast number of workers, not even registered in any of the welfare boards and for whose benefit the Government claims to be putting in place the Social Security Code, suddenly find themselves without work, without any support system to feed them and cut off far away from their native places. There are reports pouring in from all the States that workers’ services are being dispensed with in total disregard of the “Advisory” by the Secretary Ministry of Labour and also by Home Secretary.

The government has not mobilized any machinery to transport grain supplies in their Godowns to various rationing outlets in States. Restriction on inter-state transport movement made the situation difficult further. Hoarding is rampant and the prices of essential commodities are shooting up which is causing further hardship to the working people.

We urge you to impress upon the concerned departments to deal with those seeking opportunity in this hour of crisis or being callous to the plight of the masses, by enforcing the message of government advisories, to ensure that everyone has the means to feed himself/herself.

The migrant workers are in deep distress with no work, no money and removal from their work places and in many cases eviction from the rented accommodations, and have nothing to depend  upon for stay and food and   are desperately attempting to reach back to their home facing police highhandedness. Due to sudden lock down, the rail and road transport shutdown, they are walking on highways  hundreds of miles, some of them along with their families including small children. Many of them are stopped/detained, insulted and humiliated by police particularly on the inter-state borders and are now staying under the sky midway. And above this, there are reports of deaths due to accidents and hardships.

We urge you that the government must act urgently to rescue them with necessary transport facilities and they should be provided with food, shelter water and required health services.  This is in line with the directions/advisories issued by the Home Secretary to all state govts. But Central Govt also must take the responsibilities to facilitate implementation of their own advisories/directions.

Please also ensure that all the unorganized workforce, registered and un registered, the daily/casual/contract/outsourced and piece rated home based workers, agriculture workers,  MGNREGA  and scheme workers including ASHA, Mid day meal, Anganwadi and others in such a category, those who are truck drivers and helpers, coolies/porters/loaders unloaders, construction & beedi workers, the domestic workers, waste pickers, self employed as hawkers-vendors, rickshaw pullers, e-rickshaw/auto/taxi drivers etc. are covered for the cash and ration relief at the earliest. Public Distribution System be used effectively and universally for all these needy people. Opening of procurement centers for the farm produce near to villages and towns could also help the accessibility to the producers and buyers. A comprehensive income-support scheme for all the unorganized/informal sector workers is the urgent need of the hour and we urge the Govt to urgently act upon the same to save overwhelming majority of the country’s workforce from biggest human disaster. Bank branches in some cases are 40 – 50 kilometer from the place of workers/their families, hence the other methods of disbursal of cash transfer should also  be devised.

The ESIC hospitals and dispensaries be furnished with all necessary  protective equipments for the safety of medical, paramedical, safai karamcharis and other staff while giving their services. The necessary inputs of medical facilities be taken care off. They should also be considered for insurance cover.

In view of the ever-growing scale and spread of the problems of these workers particularly migrant workers, and the trade unions being in the thick of things we request you to ask the counterparts in ministry of labour  in respective states to communicate and coordinate with all the trade unions in their states including formation of trade union committees and issuing valid passes to office bearers of trade unions for addressing the above mentioned issues including their participation in relief work.

         INTUC      AITUC         HMS          CITU         AIUTUC

      TUCC            SEWA      AICCTU     LPF            UTUC

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Post Office Small Savings Schemes - Interest Rates (w.e.f 01-04-2020) & Maturity Values .....

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Coating developed by JNCASR may prevent transmission of infection

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, has developed a one-step curable anti-microbial coating which, when coated on different surfaces such as textile, plastic and so on could kill a range of virus types including COVID 19.

This covalent coating, the research paper about which has been accepted in the journal Applied Material and Interfaces, has been found to completely kill influenza virus as well as resistant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and fluconazole-resistant C. albicans spp.

The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has created an unprecedented stir in the global public health. Corona virus, like influenza, is also an enveloped virus. Therefore it is anticipated that the coating may inactivate SARS-CoV-2 upon contact and can help prevent contamination if coated on various surfaces.

“Till date, to the best of our knowledge, there is no covalent coating strategy which can kill all viruses, bacteria and fungi,” said the researchers. The coating can be fabricated on a variety of surfaces, and its ease and robustness eliminate the necessity of skilled personnel for procurement of the coating.

The molecules developed have an ability to chemically cross-link with different surfaces upon UV irradiation. Upon the formation of the coating, it has been shown to permeabilize the membranes of pathogens (i.e. bacteria) leading to their inactivation.

Microbial attachment and their colony formation on different surfaces play a major role in the transmission of deadly infections in the community as well as healthcare settings. Keeping this in mind, an easy approach was developed to coat a wide range of substrates used in daily life as well as in clinical settings.

Molecules were designed, keeping in mind their optimum solubility in a wide range of solvents (such as water, ethanol, chloroform etc.) and a cost-effective three to four-step synthetic strategy with easy purification and high yield. The molecules were then immobilized on different substrates such as cotton, polyurethane, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc., which construct majority of the objects we see around us. In brief, for coating on cotton, the sheets were dipped in a water solution of the compounds whereas, for other cases, ethanolic substrates were drop-casted on them followed by UV irradiation. After coating, the surfaces were evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity.

 Considering the current corona virus outbreak, if shown to be active, the molecule can be synthesized in large scale through a CRO (Contract Research Organization) and can be coated on various personal protective tools such as masks, gloves, gowns, etc. in collaboration with the private organizations. The molecules can also be coated on other medical devices and tools to avoid hospital-acquired or nosocomial infections.

KGS/(DST)

(Release ID :200895)

PIB  

What do we know and what do we need to know about Novel Coronavirus

Many things about Novel Coronavirus are spreading rapidly through social media, WhatsApp and the Internet. Some of these could be true, but many of those informations are baseless. At a time when the coronavirus epidemic is spreading across the world, it is important to know about some facts related to this deadly virus.  A senior scientist in Vigyan Prasar.  Dr. TV Venkateswaran  after various research findings, tells us more about it.

Infection: The virus infects the epithelial cells in the throat and lungs. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptors on human cells, which are often found mostly in throats and lungs. Virus on your skin, lacking ACE2 expression, will be harmless. The virus enters through the by nasal passage, eyes and mouth. Our hands are the main instruments that take the virus to reach our mouth, nose and eyes. Washing hands with soap water for 20 seconds as often as possible helps prevent the infection.

Infectious dosage: A dose of 700000 PFU was needed to infect a Macaque.  PFU (Plaque forming unit) is a unit of measurement of sample infectivity. Although the animal did not show any clinical symptoms, the droplets from the nose and the saliva had a viral load. Humans will need a higher dosage than 700000 PFU to get infected. An animal study on the genetically modified mice with ACE2 receptors showed that it could be infected with SARS with just 240 PFU. In comparison, it required 70,000 PFU of novel coronavirus to get infected.

Infectious period: Length of time an individual can transmit the infection to others is not known precisely, but possibly up to 10-14 days. Artificially reducing the contagious period is a crucial method of reducing overall transmission. Hospitalisation, isolation, lockdown and quarantine are all effective methods.

Who can infect: Anyone infected with the virus can infect even before the symptoms appear. Most carriers do not even show signs. Covering our mouth and nose when we cough or sneeze will help reduce the infection. The virus is present in the saliva, sputum and faeces of the infected person for the whole infectious period.

How we infect: Transmission is mostly via droplets. This requires relatively close contact, less than 6 feet. This is why it is recommended that we stay 1.5 metres away from each other in public places such as the vegetable market or supermarket. A study done in Hong Kong shows that social distancing can reduce the spread by 44%.  Inanimate vector of disease, in particular phones, doorknobs, surfaces are a potential source for transmission, but not much is known about it. It is safe sanitise out hands after touching doorknobs, lift call buttons and counters in public places.

How many we infect:  The average number of new infections caused by a typical infectious person, that is human transmissibility range (R0) is between 2.2 to 3.1. In simple word, one infected individual on the average infects about 2.2 to 3.1 persons.  By physical distancing, we can artificially reduce the actual transmissibility, thus slow the rate of infection.

Where did the virus come from: It is not from eating bat soup. Once you boil, the virus is decimated. Initially, it was speculated that the SARS-CoV-2 virus jumped from bat to humans. But recent genomes study show first it must have leapt from bat to an intermediary species before it latched on to humans. Another study indicates that a lineage of SARS-CoV-2 virus was circulating in humans before the disease outbreak.

How it evolved: SARS-CoV-2 has emerged either by natural selection of virulent strain in a non-human animal host before zoonotic transfer to humans or natural selection of virulent strain in humans following a zoonotic transmission. Only more studies will show which of the two is right. We still are not clear what are the mutations in SARS-CoV-2 that allowed human infection and transmission.

When did  SARS-CoV2 emerge:  While here have been no documented cases of SARS-CoV2 before December 2019. However, preliminary genomic analyses suggest that the first human cases of SARS-CoV-2 appeared between mid-October and mid-December 2019. This means there was a period of unrecognised transmission in humans between the primary zoonotic event and the outbreak.

Can it infect animals: The molecular modelling suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can affect besides human, bat, civet, monkey and swine cells. Does not infect domestic animals or livestock. Consuming eggs or poultry will not result in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Can one be infected twice: Once we get measles, most of us acquire life long immunity. We hardly get measles again. Experimentally infected macaques were not capable of being reinfected. Likewise, there is no evidence of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 after recovery in humans. However, how long the immunity will last is unknown.

How severe is the illness: COVID-19 is not a death sentence. The majority of COVID-19 cases are mild (81%), About 15% need hospitalisation and 5% require critical care. That is the vast majority of the infected will not even need hospitalisation.

Who are the most vulnerable: Healthcare workers are most susceptible. About 20% of healthcare workers in Lombardy, Italy becoming infected while providing medical care to patients.

Among the general public, aged, in particular above 60 years of age and people with prior cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory conditions have a higher risk.

What is the cause of the death: Most of the deaths is caused by respiratory failure or respiratory failure combined with heart damage. Leakage of fluid into the lungs, which inhibits respiration and leads to morbidity, is the primary clinical condition. At present, the treatment for COVID-19 is primarily supportive care, including ventilation if necessary. Several therapeutic trials are ongoing, and the results are awaited.

Are the virus transmitted by milk sachets, or newspapers: SARS-CoV-2 can persist on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to 3 days. When the viral load was 10000 PFU, it lasted on newspaper and cotton cloth only for 5 minutes. Washing the milk sachets is adequate to remove the virus.

Will it spread through the air: In the air, the virus can survive only up to 2.7 hours. Therefore being in open spaces such as a balcony, the terrace is no harm.

Is there a less virulent strain: While many strains are being identified, studies so far have not indicated any mutations that are linked to any changes in transmission or disease severity.

Will, the onset of summer or rainy season, gives respite: No strong evidence exists showing a reduction in transmission with the seasonal increase in temperature and humidity.  

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KGS(DST/DBT- (India Science Wire))

(Release ID :200876)

34 lakh transactions effected through POSB (Post Office Savings Bank) and 6.5 lakh transactions through IPPB(India Post Payments Bank) till date during lockdown period

During the lockdown period as on 31.03.2020, 34 lakh transactions were effected through POSB (Post Office Savings Bank) and 6.5 lakh transactions were effected through IPPB(India Post Payments Bank).

Around 2 lakh accountable mails including speed post registered letters, parcels and money-orders were delivered.

Mobile Post Offices are functioning in various circles like Kerala, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and some other circles to provide essential postal and financial services. The routes of these mobile post offices are decided depending upon requirements.

The Department of Posts is also moving ventilators, COVID-19 Test Kits and other medical equipments as per requests of various organisations from selected locations to destinations across the country by using cargo airlines and its own mail motor network.  Circles are getting in touch with State authorities to offer these services. Ventilators were dispatched through postal network from Puducherry to Odisha State Medical Corporation and Gujarat State Medical Corporation.   On-line medicine company netmeds.com and e-commerce company Amazon have also approached India Post for delivery of medicine and essential commodities in metros and some other locations

The Telengana Circle has tied up with the Health Department for distribution of medical kits.  Gujarat Circle has despatched consignment of medical supplies and essential medicines to Surat, Bharuch, Valsad, Rajkot, Jaipur, Pune and Kolkatta in partnership with Indian Drug Manufacturing Association ( IDMA).

Medicines have been transported by the road transport network from Kolkata to Siliguri, Ranchi and Patna. 

Under the Ganga Swaroop Yojana, a scheme of Government of Gujarat for payment of benefits to widows, Gujarat Circle has drawn an extensive mechanism to ensure such payments in rural and semi-urban areas to widow beneficiaries.  An amount of Rs.51 crores has been credited in 4 lakh Post Office Saving Bank Accounts and its disbursement will commence from 3^rd of April.  Telengana Circle will also be disbursing an amount of Rs.509 crores under the ASARA social security scheme of the State Govt. to old age, disabled and widow pension beneficiaries.

The Circles are partnering with the various district administrations and NGOs to provide logistic support for delivery of food items and dry rations to reach out to the needy.

Circles have created telegram groups and helpline numbers to escalate requests of public representatives such as Panchayat Secretary, telemedicine centres, village officers and Health Inspectors and individual customer to the control room.  The Department has been servicing requests for despatch of medicines and essential items received on its Twitter sewa handle.  All efforts are being made to service these request promptly and ensure delivery within the shortest possible time. 

                                                                                                                                           

(Andaman Administration sought help of Post Office for delivery of life saving medicines in Portblair Municipality area)

Speed post parcel containing  medicines delivered to Dr. Rajagopal Trivandrum Institute of Paliative Science,Regional Cancer Centre Trivandrum and to some hospital authorities

Delivery of medicine and essentials by postmen at Cuttack

Ventilators destined for Ahmedabad & Bhubaneswar booked from Puducherry

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RJ/NG

(Release ID :200899)

PIB

Booking of delivery of essential items during COVID-10 lockdown .....

SOP for Post Office Operations to avoid Spread of COVID-19

CLICK HERE   FOR VIDEO 

Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes -- w.e.f 01-04-2020

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NFPE ADDRESSED TO MOC & IT

National Federation of Postal Employees

1^st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001

Phone: 011.23092771                                              e-mail: nfpehq@gmail.com Mob: 9718686800/9319917295                        website: http://www.nfpe.blogspot.com

No. PF-Covid-19/2020                                                           Dated: 31^st March-2020

To

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji ,

Hon'ble Minister for Communications & IT,

Govt of India,

Sanchar Bhawan ,

New Delhi - 110001

Respected Sir,

Sub : Request for opening only limited number of Postal and RMS offices during lock down period declared by Central / State Governments - reg.

This appeal is made with the most fervent hope that the Hon'ble Minister will be kind enough to intervene on behalf of five lakhs Postal employees of Department of Posts.

Postal Directorate has issued instructions to open all offices during the lock down period declared by the Central/State Governments. Unlike many other Departments, in Postal Department, there are 155000 offices and about 500000 employees , out of which 130000 Branch Post offices and 300000 Gramin Dak Sevaks are in rural villages. Opening and functioning of such a large number of offices during the lock down period itself is a health hazard. The nature of duties performed by the employees such as counter services , delivery of articles at the door step of customers , clearance of street letter boxes , sorting of articles collected from various sources etc shall expose the employees to high risk of Corona virus infection and also spreading the same among public. Almost all the departments of Govt of India has issued instructions , either to close down offices or wherever it is unavoidable , to bring only minimum number of staff on duty.

We are fully aware that Postal services are declared as essential services by the Government of India and Postal department is bound to provide essential services to the public. But for providing ESSENTIAL services, entire offices need not be opened and all the staff need not be brought on duty. As Technology induction and upgradation is almost completed in Postal department , opening of a few selected offices in each Division , will serve the purpose. In fact, as per the original instructions of the Postal Directorate to the Head of Circles , only selected offices were opened and functioned to provide essential services. It worked well and there was no complaint from public regarding inadequacy of services by Postal Department. All required essential services are provided in all Circles . The need of the public as well as the protection of the staff, both was given a balanced consideration.

But to our surprise, all on a sudden, Postal Directorate modified the original instructions and ordered opening of all offices including Branch Post offices in the rural villages. These instructions were issued in a most mechanical manner , without taking into consideration, the ground realities and also the safety of the employees as well as the public.

98% of the Postal employees are residing at places from where they cannot reach offices without transport facilities.  As both road and rail transport are completely suspended by the Central/State Governments in all parts of the country  , it is practically impossible to provide transport facilities by any Government to all Postal employees who are scattered at various places in every nook and corner of the country.

Further , as already stated above , duties performed by the Postal employees involve high risk of corona virus infection. In majority of the offices department could not provide any preventive measures , except issuing instructions to the lower authorities. Postal employees are also not included in the list of beneficiaries of 50 lakhs Insurance Scheme , declared by the Hon'ble Prime Minister.

Taking into consideration , all the above facts and circumstances , we , on behalf of five lakhs Postal employees , most humbly request the Hon'ble Minister to give due consideration to the above grievances raised by us and to issue suitable instructions to the Postal Directorate on the following suggestions made by staff side.

1.Only minimum number of selected offices may be opened in each Division for providing essential services to the public.

2. Only minimum number of employees may be brought on duty for providing essential services to the public at selected offices which are identified for providing essential services. 

3.Postal employees who are ordered to work for providing essential services , may also be included in the list of beneficiaries listed in the 50 lakhs Insurance Scheme declared by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India.

4. All items recommended by Health Ministry of Central/ State Governments  , as preventive measures for those exposed to the public , may be provided to the employees who are ordered to perform duty during the lock down period.

With profound regards

                                                                                                Yours Sincerely,

                                                                             

(R.N Parashar)

       Secretary General,

                      NFPE

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