COVID19: Odisha Recognises Forest Officials, Bankers As Frontline Workers

Bhubaneswar: Bringing much-needed respite for the forest officials and bankers, the Odisha government on Thursday included them in the Frontline Workers category.

The decision was taken in the State Steering Committee meeting which was held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Odisha on May 6, 2021.

The committee accorded in-principle approval for inclusion of following categories of staff as frontline Workers (FLWs) for COVID-19 vaccination: -

Forest Officials & Forest guards, banking staff, insurance companies, NCPI payment system providers/operators/vendors, cash logistic companies, cash-in-transit companies, ATM maintenance personnel, banking correspondence & customer care points.

The State government has also accorded FLW status to railway, DCPU, Childline (1098), 181 helpline, One Stop Centres staff and all caregiver staff of child care institutions, oxygen plant employees, fuel filling station employees and call centre employees.

It was also approved to include the government veterinary doctors, livestock Inspectors and para veterinarians as Frontline Workers for COVID-19 vaccination.

It is worthwhile to state here that the government has asked States to ensure second dose of vaccination of due beneficiaries and above categories of the staff shall only be vaccinated once adequate vaccine supply is available in the State.