New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar urged government officials to come up with suggestions for five-year vision plans of their ministries by the end of the 21-day lockdown, officials told ThePrint.
During an audio interaction Thursday, with nearly 400 officials of three ministries — Information & Broadcasting, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Javadekar asked officials to ideate on the changes they could bring to their work in this period to increase their efficiency. He added that good suggestions will be recognised and accepted.
Interacted with 400 officers of my 3 ministries – @moefcc @MIB_India
& @heindustry – together through Audio Bridge.Told them to ‘stay positive’ ‘stay home’ ‘stay engaged’ and ‘stay happy’. To that end I suggested many activities also.#21DaysChallenge#IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/7maCNXLSs0
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 26, 2020
Ministry officials who attended the audio interaction said Javadekar asked them to work on at least three tasks of their respective departments and keep notes ready when they return to work on 15 April.
Also read: Clapping to slapping — India did everything other than social distancing this week
‘Practice social distancing, stay positive’
In the audio interaction, Javadekar also suggested ways to cope with the lockdown. He directed the officials to practice social distancing, maintain positivity and not to watch a lot of news.
He also referred to the time he was jailed for 16 months during the Emergency in 1975, and said that he kept himself engaged by learning new skills.
Ever since the lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday to curb the spread of the coronavirus, many official meetings are being held over audio calls.
The government e-office is also being used by officials to carry out work online. The central government has allowed 50 per cent of its employees to work from home and staggered working hours for the remaining employees.
On Thursday, a picture of the cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi went viral, where ministers could be seen practising social distancing and sat metres apart from each other.
Also read: DD’s Lord Ram, Lord Krishna say Ramayan and Mahabharat hold lessons even for Netflix gen