Mysore/Mysuru: With almost all Government Offices restricting entry of public as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19, the general  public-related works at Government Departments including the DC’s office, MUDA, MCC, Tahsildar and ZP Offices have almost come to a standstill.

Barring entry of officials, staff and people’s representatives, several Government Departments have put restrictions on the entry of public to their offices, either by placing a table or tying tapes at the entry gate. With no physical entry, the people are put to a lot of hardship as they are facing untold difficulties in case of emergencies. Although a few staff are assigned to collect applications, grievances or petitions from the public at the entrance, the public cannot personally interact with the officials or the concerned case-workers in connection with their work. 

Also, all staff aged over 50 years have been asked not to come to Office as a safety measure, which has reduced the staff strength by 35 percent on an average. Besides, a majority of working staff have been assigned COVID-19 duties, which has further compounded the woes of the public.

The public are all the more put to a lot of inconvenience and hardship as Government Offices with high public contact such as the DC’s Office, AC’s Office, District Treasury, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Irrigation, MCC, MUDA, Revenue,  Agriculture and CESC, too have restricted entry of public. Adding to the misery of the people, these offices have continued the restrictions, despite the Government announcing unlocking measures in phases. Now, as if the problems triggered by COVID-19 is not enough, the rampaging rivers and floods have brought more misery to the people. With a majority of Government staff assigned for flood relief and rehabilitation works, the plight of the people has all the more compounded as most Government Offices seem virtually shut for them, with hardly a few employees found in most of the Offices.

Due to pandemic, the City Courts too are hearing only select and emergency cases, which has inconvenienced the litigants and the advocates alike.