Odisha govt asks staff of all degree colleges, universities to attend ofc

Bhubaneswar: With the improvement of Covid-19 situation in Odisha, the State government has asked all teaching and non-teaching employees of degree colleges and universities to attend office from Tuesday.

Odisha Higher Education Secretary Saswat Mishra on Monday issued instructions to the Vice-Chancellors of all State public universities and principals of all degree colleges, in this regard.   

Considering the situation prevailing in mid-April, 50 per cent roster attendance system for teaching and non-teaching employees had been introduced with effect from April 19, 2021.

Due to thin attendance of employees for almost two and half months, a lot of important work now remains pending, Mishra said.

The colleges and universities will have to conduct final semesters/final year examination of UG/PG students in online mode and publish result at the earliest so that career of these students does not get affected, he said.

Examinations of other non-final year batch students also has to be conducted, one after another, to ensure that these students also do not suffer much due to delayed academic calendar. Therefore, the government has withdrawn the 50 per cent roster attendance system.

Under these circumstances, all teaching and non-teaching employees of the higher educational institutions have been directed to attend duty on all working days from tomorrow onwards.

They have been directed to strictly follow all Covid-19 prevention protocols such as face mask, hand sanitization, social distancing, self-isolation/quarantine, etc.

Mishra also clarified that the order of General Administration (GA) Department regarding closure of government offices on Saturdays will not applicable for the HEIs located in the 20 districts, where weekend shutdown has not been imposed.