COVID-19 Update – KTR Writes To Union Minister, Raises Social Distancing Concern In IT Companies

K.T. Rama Rao, the Information Technology (IT,) Electronics and Communications Minister, on the 30th of April, spoke about social distancing in IT sectors during and post the lockdown.

Mr. Rao urged the Central Government to issue guidelines and regulate seating spaces in IT companies considering social distancing ensuring distance of 100 to 125 square feet of space.

The appeal was made through a letter written to Ravi Shankar Prasad, the IT Minister of India.  In the letter dated 30th of April, Mr. K.T. Rama Rao wrote, “A lot of IT/ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services) units are operating in tightly packed environments wherein the average space in some cases is less than 80 sq ft per employee.”  He further added, “The Central Government may regulate that a minimum of 100- 125 sq ft space for each worker needs to be utilised by any IT or ITeS unit registered under SEZ (Special Economic Zones) or STPI (Software Technology Parks of India.)”

Comparing the arrangements to the United States of America, KTR said the distance in American IT companies is 150 sq feet, whereas in India it is near to 80 sq feet.

KTR said, more space between the employees would ensure healthy distance and safety from the spread of the Novel Coronavirus in the workplace.

Regarding this, KTR urged the Union IT MInister to impose guidelines related to the aforementioned concerns, which includes hygiene, social distancing at common areas and parking spaces.

In addition, KTR asked the Union Minister to clear the pending income tax refund due worth Rs. 25 lakhs to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for 2018-2019.

Meanwhile, Telangana recorded a total of 1,038 cases of the Novel Coronavirus with 28 fatalities till date.