Kerala government is going to launch a new Work Near Home Scheme 2020 for its employees. The Kerala Work Near Home Scheme will assure proper working facilities to all the employees near their houses. Under this scheme, govt. will make arrangements similar to the office at a centre nearest to the house of employees amidst Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The state govt. will provide facility to employees in various IT and non-IT companies.
All the abandoned buildings and hotels will be acquired to arrange Kerala Work Near Home facility. Such centres would be facilitated to allow operation of multiple companies and working of employees. In the 1st phase of project, around 100 Work Near Home centres would be established in corporation and municipality limits.
In the next phase of this Scheme, the resorts and houseboats will be taken over to convert as Work Near Home centres.
Kerala Work Near Home Scheme 2020 for Employees
The state govt. had already started Move to Kerala campaign in which IT parks have started a survey. That survey was conducted to know the opinion of employees and companies on Work Near Home Scheme. The state govt. is preparing a detailed project after selection of suitable buildings and interior of each building would be similar. The interior of the buildings would be arranged on the basis of plan prepared by the Indian Institute of Interior Design. The buildings which are going to be constructed under Kerala Work From Home Scheme would have at-least 5000 square feet area.
Launch Date (Timeline)
A notification for tender to acquire buildings in Kerala will be issued within 2 weeks. The Work Near Home facility will come into force from the month of October 2020. With this initiative, employees would be able to work at the nearest place of their house amid the Coronavirus outbreak.
Importance of Kerala Work Near Home Scheme
As the COVID-19 vaccine is not made yet and it is necessary to maintain social distancing while at work, the state govt. of Kerala has started Work Near Home Scheme. Employees can work near their home place and they will not have to travel at farther distances through bus, train and other transport mode which may be fatal. As the Coronavirus spread takes place in Kerala, the state govt. focuses on Work From Home but now with ease in restrictions, Work Near Home is a next major step of the government.
As per the reports, there are many companies which have expressed their interest in becoming a part of the Work Near Home Scheme in Kerala. Currently, such centres can be acquired for low rent as compared to the rent of IT parks in Kerala. The state govt. expects that the project will be a huge success. This scheme is being launched after observing issues including power failure and slow network connection faced by the employees who are working from home.
Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) by Dec 2020
K-Fon Internet project will be commissioned in the state by the month of December 2020. With this Kerala Fibre Optic Network project, several issues related with network speed would be resolved which will motivate IT sector in Kerala. Currently, many companies have been shortlisted to occupy space in IT parks.
Among these companies, various small companies would be benefited with Kerala Work Near Home Scheme. They would be able to use this facility in the 1st phase and occupy space in IT parks later. It is reported that several non-IT companies have also expressed interest in the Work Near Home facility.