Assam Govt to Ensure Vaccination Status of Frontline Workers Before Releasing Salary

GUWAHATI: The Assam Chief Secretary, Jishnu Barua has directed all departmental heads to ascertain the vaccination status of such frontline government servants before releasing the monthly salary/remuneration from the current month onwards.

The notification states- "Whereas, the situation of Covid-19 in the state has been reviewed and observed that, though the number of Covid-19 patients and positivity rate is declining in some districts, the overall situation is still a matter of concern for which adequate containment measures are still necessary to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

Whereas, it has been observed that many frontline government servants including contractual & fixed pay, have not yet taken the Covid-19 vaccine, irrespective of their registration in the COWIN portal.

Whereas the Health Department of the Government of Assam has arranged for large-scale vaccination of all eligible age groups, both on and offline.

Whereas, non-vaccination of such frontline government servants may rise to the possibility of further spread of the virus which, in turn, may endanger the lives of common citizens, especially the vulnerable groups like an infant, pregnant women, etc.

Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers, conferred under Section 22 (2) (b)of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned, in his capacity of Chairperson, State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority, Assam, do hereby direct all departmental heads to ascertain the vaccination status of such frontline government servants before releasing the monthly salary/remuneration from the current month onwards."