<span style="color: #222222;">Officials and staff of Rajya Sabha secretariat today decided to contribute a minimum of one day's salary each to PM-CARES Fund in support of the ongoing measures against Corona virus. One day salary of about 1300 employees of the secretariat comes to 33 lakh rupees. In addition, Secretary General and other senior officials will voluntarily contribute two day salary each for the cause. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">This was decided through video conferencing taken by the Secretary General Desh Dipak Verma today. About 50 officials and representatives of various categories of staff participated in the consultations regarding the contribution. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Verma also reviewed the work done during the first week of lockdown and further directed that core functions and pending works if any, shall be discharged by working from home through e-Office during the period of lockdown. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Necessary transport arrangements have been put in place to enable officials and staff to attend office, if required. In a first of it's kind, three officials of the secretariat due to retire today were given warm farewell during the video conference. The three officials recalled their memories of long association with the secretariat.<br />'' <br />'' Referring to the issues that may emanate during the three week long confinement to homes, Secretary General Verma said that regular interactions with families of the employees will be held through video conferencing to share experiences besides facilitating social interaction.<br />'' <br />'' Mr Verma also enquired about the contributions by Members of both the Houses of Parliament following the appeals of Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to contribute at least One crore rupees each from MPLADS in aid of the measures against novel Corona virus. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Secretary PPK Ramacharyulu informed that more than 250 MPs have their consent to make such contribution as on 30th March.</span><br />''