Delhi government urges private sector to adopt work from home for fuel savings
Delhi Labour and Development Minister Kapil Mishra held a virtual meeting with Labour Department officials on January 31, urging industrial and commercial establishments to implement work-from-home arrangements for at least two days a week to conserve fuel and support public welfare.
The meeting, conducted at the Delhi Secretariat, included the Labour Commissioner, Joint Labour Commissioners, Deputy Labour Commissioners, inspectors, electrical inspectors, and other senior departmental officials. During the session, Mishra reviewed advisories related to fuel conservation, promotion of public transport, and the reduction of petrol and diesel consumption amid current conditions.
Addressing the officials, Mishra noted: “This was perhaps the first time that officers and staff from the district to the state level had connected through an online conference.” He stated that India remained one of the few economies progressing strongly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership despite international challenges. Mishra added that the Prime Minister had issued important appeals considering the evolving global situation, which the Delhi Government, led by the Chief Minister, was committed to implementing.
The minister highlighted that commuting to offices consumed a significant amount of fuel and that adopting work-from-home arrangements could considerably reduce such consumption. He referenced systems implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and the GRAP period as evidence that many tasks could be effectively performed remotely.
Mishra directed officials to engage with large private enterprises, IT companies, and institutions where remote work was practical, encouraging them to adopt work-from-home policies for a minimum of two days weekly in the national interest. He noted that the Delhi Government had resolved to cut petrol and diesel usage by 20 per cent, urging private entities to contribute positively to fuel conservation efforts.
The advisory requested industrial establishments, factories, shops, commercial enterprises, and IT and ITES institutions in Delhi to adopt work-from-home arrangements for eligible employees at least two days per week when feasible, maintaining only essential on-site staff. It also recommended staggered working hours, increased use of public transport and carpooling, promotion of virtual meetings, and reduction of non-essential official travel.
Mishra emphasised that these measures were voluntary appeals in the national interest rather than enforced mandates. He instructed officials to regularly monitor the campaign’s implementation at the district level and maximise use of online systems to aid fuel conservation.
The meeting also highlighted the national campaign “Mera Bharat Mera Yogdan,” which encourages reducing petrol and diesel consumption, adopting healthy lifestyles, cutting unnecessary edible oil use, and promoting Indian local products. The minister urged employers to raise awareness among staff about the significance of fuel conservation and promote practical saving measures.
Officials stated that essential services including hospitals, healthcare, fire services, prisons, public transport, electricity, water supply, sanitation, and disaster management were exempt from the advisory.
