The demand for implementing a “Work From Home” policy and a “5-Day Week” system has now reached the Gujarat Secretariat. The Gujarat Secretariat Federation has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urging the state government to take an immediate decision on the matter.
The federation stated that the move would help save petrol and diesel, reduce traffic congestion, and promote digital governance across government departments. The representation was submitted by Federation President Kirti L. Patel and General Secretary Hiren R. Patel.
According to the letter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly appealed to citizens to minimize fuel consumption, adopt work-from-home practices where possible, and prioritize virtual meetings. Keeping the current global situation and the importance of fuel conservation in mind, the federation has requested the Gujarat government to move in the same direction.
The federation pointed out that the Gujarat Secretariat is the administrative hub of the state, where a large number of employees commute daily. This leads to significant fuel consumption and increased traffic pressure in and around the area.
The letter also highlighted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, systems such as e-office operations, virtual meetings, video conferencing, and digital file management were implemented successfully and delivered positive results. Based on that experience, the federation believes a hybrid working model can be effectively adopted even now.
Among the key demands made to the government are:
- Immediate implementation of “Work From Home” or a hybrid work model depending on departmental requirements
- Introduction of a “5-Days Week” system in state government offices
- Rotation-based work-from-home arrangements for employees
- Increased use of e-office systems and other digital platforms
The federation believes these measures would not only help conserve fuel but also reduce pollution, save commuting time, improve employee productivity, and encourage green governance. It also said such a move would support and strengthen the Prime Minister’s message on fuel conservation and digital working practices.
