WORKING FROM HOME— Certain thoughts in the present scenario of Covid19

The global Corona virus pandemic has increased the work force working from home. The present crisis forced employers to allow their work force to work from home which was accepted whole heartedly with both the hands by the employees. They were able to say goodbye to the tedious commute to work place, finding affordable dwelling places, food, dress etc.

The Covid 19 has taught the employers that a percentage of the total work force working from home enable a distributed work force and it will keep the operations running even during a disaster either man made or natural. Both entry level unskilled workers to those requiring specialisation / training/expertise can work from home.

The employers must ensure that working from home is productive through proper follow up. They have to ensure that there is a designated work space set up with right technology and internet connection with required speed. There must be a scheduled way of social contacts, dealing with kids and family members, pets and other potential disruptions that can happen. One should be able to separate their work space from their personal space and use it only for work.

Take the case of Amazon, Dell Inc, Infosys, IBM, TCS etc – where they have implemented the process of working from home and have stated that by 2025 their 75% employment will be working from home (various reports in the media and news sites). It is also reported that many of the Companies may vacate 50% of their infrastructure too thus cutting down their expenditure which will have appositive impact on their bottom line.

The major negative aspect is that both the employer and at the same time employees must be able to avoid scam. Working from home has come a long way and with the present pandemic debacle it has peaked thus everybody is eager to earn a living without leaving home and hence must be very careful. The job seekers must always do a homework regarding the job providing employer so as to ensure that the firm is an established one and having good repute. Otherwise the job seekers may land into the trap of fraudsters where both are eager for money , one trying to earn for living and the fraudster using the opportunity for making easy money through cheating. For example: if working from home requires one to pay a fee upfront or need to buy a start up kit or requires parting/investment of sizeable amount, then it may probably be a scam.

The employee must stick to certain schedules otherwise they may fall into workaholic tendency (the employer need only maximum productivity). Even though it is said that there is freedom of work, added to that freedom there comes hours of uninterrupted hard work followed up by employers which makes working from home not that easy. For the employee it is working from home due to being at home, access etc but for the employer it is just an another location.

Finally working from home may be empowering, exciting and profitable and this will be to those who is aware of the pros and cons of working from home. There must be always a proper planning, focus, foresight and self discipline to make it exciting thus avoiding stress and strain.

COVID 19—LET US BREAK THE CHAIN—LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE VIRUS—NEVER PANIC--LOCKDOWNS TAUGHT US TO UNDERSTAND THINGS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL AND NON ESSENTIAL—CONTINUE IT AND PREVENT AN OUTBREAK.

COVID—19, i.e Corona Virus Disease is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered virus named Corona virus.

It is mainly transmitted through droplets generated out of sneeze, cough or exhales by an infected person. These droplets stick on the floors or surfaces.one can be infected by breathing in the virus if one is within close proximity of the infected person or by touching a contaminated surface and with that touching ones nose, mouth and eyes. Most people who are infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment—as epr reports. But these people can be carriers of infectious corona virus and people with other serious ailments(high risk group) and with less immunity will be seriously infected which may be fatal too.

The first case of Covid--19 in India was reported in Kerala on 30^th January 2020.three students who came to Kerala from Wuhan province of China. Two of them were Medical students at a University in Wuhan. A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019.
The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020.

In Kerala the cases went on to increase up to the first two weeks of April 2020 and the graph line straightened only during first week of May 2020. But again with the inflow of NRIs, expatriates, migrant labourers, allowing interstate transport for bringing stranded Keralites and further relaxations in lockdown norms will definitely increase positive cases of Covid--19 in Kerala. Kerala Government has taken all the steps to track the expatriates who arrive at the airports and railway stations and also for basic medical screening. For those arriving through other means from other States, administrative and medical steps are arranged for an early detection of Covid—19 and thereby arresting any outbreak.

It may be noted with concern that in Kerala if the reported cases of Covid—19 are on the increase then the fate of bigger States of India will be worse. Only awareness with economic package for the poor for their survival only can help the outbreak of this pandemic. A monthly free ration of essential items along with some amount into the personal account of members of poor family members, unemployed, those who have lost employment will help a long way in curtailment of this exodus taking place in India. all political differences must be kept aside by the government as well as the opposition , so that together we will arrest any outbreak by following guidelines and thereby staying healthy and safe.

LET US BREAK THE CHAIN—LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE VIRUS—NEVER PANIC--LOCKDOWNS TAUGHT US TO UNDERSTAND THINGS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL AND NON ESSENTIAL—CONTINUE IT AND PREVENT AN OUTBREAK.

A COVID RESOLUTION AFTER THE CRISIS FOR SELF SUFFICIENCY

Kerala do have traits of developed countries in many fields...we are always setting the developments of those countries as our target in further areas too. But remember we should not fall like USA,UK,Spain Italy,France etc as COVID 19 has proved....It is time to think, think and think together.

As we know Kerala, known as God's own country,was a State producing rice, blackgrams, vegetables etc. Kerala was having many flourishing small scale industrial clusters like coir, handloom,cashew etc. From a productive State it has transformed into a cosumer State which I feel is a downfall over a period of time.

Earlier the festivals of Kerala in any part of it was linked to the harvest season and now we observe that it had slowly turned out to be market oriented consumption sales during festivals like Onam, Christmas,Bakrid etc etc.  Vegetables and rice comes from our neighbouring States for our daily consumption.

Now this COVID crisis had proved that our State shivers once the borders are closed. We depend too much on others for our daily needs which we can produce at our backyard. Neighbouring States never have such problems because for food they have their own production,what they suffer is commercial loss due to non selling of their products to Kerala if borders are closed.

Hence a suggestion is that the administration from the root level to State level must take steps to think and implement as to what we do for making ourselves self sufficient for rice, vegetables etc. Agriculture to be given more importance and Agriculturist must be rewarded properly through setting up marketing centres,subsidies for quality seeds/manure and finally good rate for their products.

Cottage industrial clusters can be revived through revival packages( even though it is there) with more subsidies and tax concessions. With Kudumdasree and other SHGs/JLGs are very active in our State,we can implement the above through themand build up a Self sufficient State of Kerala..Let this be our resolution once the COVID crisis is over.

POLITRICKS..ONLY AFTER COVID..OBEY THE ADMINISTRATION NOW

Saddest thing, that still takes place in this country is scoring points through POLITRICKS rather that obeying and following the orders and guidelines of the Administration.

Instead of playing tricks, addressing ones loyalists to follow the guidelines to avoid spreading of this Virus is the most important and respectful thing that can be done to this country

Defying orders and crowding should not be allowed at any circumstances and media also must excercise restriction and should not give interviews to anyone just like that from these areas of action. Because certain things spelt out by them will be highlighted and sensationalized  which may give more problems to the administration rather than solutions by dampening the efforts of health workers, police, local administrators, panchayat members, ward representatives, bankers etc etc

Corona do not have any boundaries, any politics, any economic status or any sentiments. Hence take all steps to avoid oneself getting infected and make others understand the seriousness of this Virus.

Understand that lockdown is for one to stay inside wherever you are and not to move from one place to another alone or in groups,which we had seen in the case of migrant labours and others in certain parts of the country. This is not what the Government is expecting from each responsible citizen.

The Governments irrespective of politics must address the situation including taking stringent measures if the situation demands.

FIGHT CORONA STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND BE SAFE.