75 ministries of Modi government are getting ready for 'work from home' after lockdown 4.0

New delhi date. 14 May 2020, Thursday

The effects of the corona virus on the world are likely to last for a very long time. World Health Organization Emergency Affairs President Dr. Michael Rhea has also made a statement meaning the virus will probably never go away. In view of all these circumstances, the Modi government is going to transform its 75 ministries and departments into a 'work from home' tradition after Lockdown 4.0.

Initially, the Deputy Secretary and his e-office will be involved in the scheme. The HOD can later make its own section officers its share. Classified files should not be sent from e-office. The National Informatics Center (NIC) has been made the nodal agency for e-office working. The DOPT has asked all ministries and departments to take up the matter by May 21. If any ministry or department does not give any suggestion by this date, their acceptance for e-office will be considered.

"Work from home has become important to maintain social distance," the draft sent by the DOPT said. Since Lockdown 1.0, various Ministries and Departments have settled 80 per cent of their work under Work from Home. It will be maintained further. NIC has been instrumental in providing strong platforms like e-office and video conferencing. Security will be paramount in the draft that is being prepared now so that this system can continue even after Lockdown 4.0.

NIC will work with the Home Ministry to prepare security guidelines and make laptops available on a rotation basis. Responsibility for other IT logistics has also been handed over to NIC. Reimbursement will be provided for data card. The Central Registry Unit (CRU) and the physical post system will continue to operate during the e-office. Alerts will be sent via SMS and email to avoid delays in e-office work.

Important files will remain in the e-Office's knowledge management system. The exchange of important files between the various ministries will continue as smoothly as before.

Consideration is being given to how the e-office will send the VIP and Parliament work file. An SMS alert will be sent for it. Details of who has which file and what is its progress report will be in the alert while NIC will provide excellent video conferencing service. All the ministries will be connected to NIC's Central Help Desk. If there is any technical problem in the e-office, the ministry and departments can contact this help desk.

The laptop that will be made available for e-office cannot be used for any other work. All officers from Work From Home will be available on the phone. Which officer is deciding how much time to work from home in a year and initially its duration can be up to two weeks.