Covid hits Telangana administration as babus, cops test positive

HYDERABAD: BRKR Bhavan, which houses the Telangana secretariat temporarily, is in the grip of a Covid-19 surge. As many as 20 senior officers, including top bureaucrats working in the secretariat and heads of the departments, have tested positive in the last few days.
According to officials, officers in health, education, finance and general administration department (GAD) have been infected.Ironically, some of the senior officers and HODs took part in Monday’s state cabinet meeting.

Sources said among those who tested positive include health secretary SAM Rizvi, education secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania, finance secretary Ronald Rose and public health director Dr G Srinivasa Rao. Dr Rao, while confirming it on Twitter, said he is under medical observation and isolation. Since some staffers in the peshis were infected with Covid-19, HoDs like GAD principal secretary Vikas Raj have gone into isolation. Srinivasa Raju, R&B department secretary, also tested positive.
Over 100 police personnel in Hyderabad CCC and police stations like Chaitanyapuri, Alwal have also tested positive. Even in publicity cell in the secretariat, a couple of staffers have been infected.
Sources said many officers developed symptoms days after they took part in a meeting held by chief secretary Somesh Kumar on government employees’ allotment and postings in secretariat. Many departments such as Aranya Bhavan (forest department headquarters) and collectorates in districts have shut doors for visitors after a spike in cases.
Employees’ unions plan to ask the government to allow 50% staff to work from home. Sources said some employees have decided to go on leave. “Of the total government staffers, 30% of them are infected. We plan to hold a meeting to discuss the issue of allowing offices to function with 50% staff in a day or two,” Telangana Gazetted Officers Association president V Mamata said.