Aizawl, May 21: The Mizoram government on Thursday effected several measures, including a weekly ‘No official vehicle day’, staggered office timings, and work from home for 20 per cent employees, to conserve fuel and reduce expenditure, amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.
The initiatives were taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for reducing fuel consumption and spending more wisely in view of the West Asia conflict.
Under the new initiatives, issued by the General Administration Department, the authorities have been asked to make work-from-home arrangements for 20 per cent of employees.
“Every Wednesday will be observed as ‘No official vehicle day’ during which state government employees have been encouraged to walk or use public transport to reach their offices,” the official said.
However, essential services, including healthcare, emergency response, water and power supply, transport services, and law and order agencies, have been exempted from the work-from-home arrangement.
To reduce traffic congestion and fuel usage, the government offices have been operating in two shifts.
While 20 departments, including agriculture, education, power and electricity, and general administration, have been working from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, 20 others, including home, health and disaster management, are functioning from 10:30 am to 6 pm, the official said.
The government has also instructed departments to prioritise video conferencing over physical meetings and minimise official travel within and outside the state.
Foreign travel by state government employees under the government establishments has also been discouraged.
The ministers and top government functionaries have been asked to reduce vehicle convoys as part of the cost-cutting exercise, the official said.
The order also directed all offices to adopt strict power-saving measures, including switching off lights, fans, and other electrical appliances after office hours.
Air conditioners are to be used only when necessary, the official said.
The departments have additionally been asked to avoid organising celebratory functions and to reduce non-essential expenditure, the official added.(PTI)
