Civic staff over 55 in many wards told to stay home in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Certain BMC wards have issued circulars asking department heads to avoid calling employees 55 years and older to work.
Additional civic commissioner Suresh Kakani said the daily ward employee strength has been brought down from 100% to 30-35%. “We want the young to be deployed as they would find it easier to commute long distances and be more efficient,” he said.One circular issued on Tuesday accessed by TOI states, “In the current situation there are increasing number of Covid-19 patients and for those 55 years old and above there is an increased chance of contracting the disease. All department heads are being directed that all employees 55 years and above should be told not to report to work till the situation is brought under control.”
Kakani said the circular has been issued at the ward level. “If a ward does not have young staff they may call the seniors,” he said. Health minister Rajesh Tope said, “It is true people in that category are more susceptible, and there are more death in this age group. We will have to think it through carefully on whether we should apply this across the state,” he said.