Teaching and non-teaching staff in Mumbai can travel by the local trains

In a decision taken on Wednesday, November 11, the Maharashtra government asked the railways to permit both teaching and non-teaching staff of the schools in Mumbai to travel by the local trains. The decision was taken after the government announced the reopening of the schools for selected students.

Currently, the local trains are not operational for the general public, and only workers from the essential services, lawyers, Dabbawalas, private security guards and women are allowed to use the train, under certain conditions. However, teachers and non-teaching staff will soon be permitted, as per the developments.

The information was shared by State Education Minister, Varsha Gaikwad, who took to Twitter and said the state government has decided to allow staff members and teachers to use the Mumbai local trains for their commute. A copy of the letter requesting the same has been sent to the officials at the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR). Moreover, this has been implemented with immediate effect, said mentioned the letter dated November 6, 2020.

The Secretary of Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation department, Kishore Raje Nimbalkar, sent the letter on behalf of the ministry and had addressed them to the general managers of the CR and the WR.

Meanwhile, to ensure the smoother process, the education department released the set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the educational institutions. Minister Gaikwad, in her recent communication, mentioned that the schools can reopen after Diwali, from November 23, 2020. The classes will resume for students from grades 9-12, however, school authorities will have to follow strict guidelines for the same.

Teachers and staff members will have to undergo tests. Regular checks will be conducted at the schools to ensure safety and precaution. Masks will have to be worn at all times. Schools will have to conduct per class only for 40 minutes and can have four classes a day.

Moreover, parents have been requested to not send the children to school, if they or any member of the family has an illness or COVID19 symptoms.