New Delhi, May 20 (IANS): The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has exempted pregnant women officials and staff members from attending office.

Union Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh, in a circular, said that pregnant women employees, who are not already on maternity leave, will also be exempted from attending office. Persons with disabilities will also to be given similar exemption from attendance.

The latest circular issued by the DoPT also states that government servants who have underlying co-morbidities and were undergoing treatment for these ailments before the lockdown, may, as far as possible, be exempted upon production of medical prescription.

"What is important, is to strictly observe staggered timings for the arrival and departure of the officers and the staff," the statement noted.

In order to avoid unnecessary crowding, all the heads of departments have been advised to ensure three sets of timings. These would be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., respectively.

While officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above are expected to attend office on all working days, the officers and staff below the level of Deputy Secretary will attend office with 50 per cent attendance every alternative day and those not attending the office should work from home and remain available on telephone and electronically.

Jitendra Singh appreciated the staff in the Ministry of Personnel for having continued to work with full commitment during the entire lockdown.

He said that some of the staff members were working from home even during the weekends which normally does not happen when the offices are closed.

Every care has been taken to ensure that while offices continue to function, at the same time, the welfare and safety of officials is not overlooked, he added.