Union Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Ravi Shankar Prasad, on Tuesday, said that employees in the Information Technology sector can Work From Home until July 31st. The decision was communicated after the Minister held a meeting with IT Ministers from all the states.
Lockdown in India until May 3rd
India is currently serving the second phase of the lockdown, which is due to end on May 3rd. PM Narendra Modi held a video-conference with all the CM’s on Monday, and it is expected that he would arrive in front of the citizens in the next few days.
The earlier stipulated WFH date was April 30th
Initially,the IT industries were asked to facilitate their employees to work from home until April 30th. However, the decision has been renewed now, as the date has been pushed to July 31st. The next review would happen in the month of July.
Aware of the difficulties for the IT sector, Ravi Shankar Prasad revealed plans of the government to combat the situation. He said: “Not just the IT sector, all states should give importance to developing startups and research. The focus will be on providing effective E-governance and E-passes. The working of almost all sectors after Covid-19 has changed. Nearly 80 percent of professionals are working from home. Almost all the work is done online. To help this, internet services will be strengthened through Bharat Net.”
He further added: “I took on board the suggestion that we must have a strategic group assisting our system, state governments, (their) IT Ministers, and some of the best minds of the IT profession… so that with this type of challenge and opportunity, we can leverage fresh ideas. I have also relaxed norms for working from home, it was to end on April 30, I have extended it to July 31. More and more products for Aarogya Setu app,e-pass, linkage with the district officials, all I have agreed to immediately.“
Source: The News Minute
