Context
- In response to continued “very poor” air quality in Delhi, the Delhi government has ordered all government and private offices to function with only 50% staff physically present, with the remaining employees working from home.
- The order is effective immediately and will remain in force as long as Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented.
Key Highlights
Workforce Restriction Measures
- 50% physical attendance mandate for:
- Government departments
- Private offices
- Public sector units
- Remaining 50% to work from home.
Exemptions
- Essential & emergency services excluded, including:
- Hospitals & health services
- Fire services
- Sanitation & municipal services
- Other emergency field operations
Administrative Instructions
- Administrative Secretaries & Heads of Departments must attend office daily.
- If required for continuous public-service delivery, departments may summon additional staff beyond 50% rule.
Policy Trigger
- Decision aligns with Stage III of GRAP, after the provision — previously meant only for Stage IV — was advanced due to worsening pollution trends.
Air Quality Status
- CPCB forecast: Air quality likely to stay “very poor” till Thursday.
- AQI Scale (CPCB):
- 51–100: satisfactory
- 101–200: moderate
- 201–300: poor
- 301–400: very poor
- 401–500: severe
Relevant Prelims Points
- GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan):
- Framework for emergency air pollution measures in Delhi-NCR
- Stage I – Poor | Stage II – Very Poor | Stage III – Severe | Stage IV – Severe+
- Implemented by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
- AQI Components: PM2.5, PM10, SO₂, NO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, Pb.
- CPCB: Statutory organisation under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- Work-from-home directives earlier implemented during pandemic & air-emergency conditions.
Relevant Mains Points
Governance & Policy Dimensions
- Represents adaptive public administration based on real-time AQI trends.
- Shifting the 50% workforce rule from Stage IV → Stage III signals precautionary escalation to prevent reaching “severe” AQI levels.
- Highlights dependence on multi-sector coordination — government, private sector, CAQM, CPCB.
Economic & Social Implications
- Work-from-home feasibility varies across sectors, potentially impacting:
- Small businesses & field-based services
- Government field work delivery
- Exemptions ensure critical urban services remain functional.
Environmental Justice
- Air pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable groups:
- Children, elderly, asthma & respiratory patients
- Outdoor workforce (sanitation workers, street vendors)
- Balancing health protection with economic continuity remains a governance challenge.
Way Forward
- Strengthen remote-work infrastructure for government & private entities.
- Source-control measures: Construction dust rules, industrial emissions check, traffic curbs.
- Promote clean mobility (EVs, public transit incentives) and urban greening.
- Citizen participation mechanisms for reporting pollution violations.