Plan to reimburse data usage from home derails

NEWDELHI:The Union finance ministry’s expenditure department has for now opposed a proposal for ₹300 monthly reimbursement for increased data usage for officials working from home, saying it is unnecessary since remote working saves the travelling costs, officials aware of the matter said.

The proposal has been made as part of deliberations for the formulation of the Centre’s work from home policy. The policy is being drafted in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that has prompted social distancing norms and remote working globally to check its spread.

The officials said the department, which oversees the Centre’s public financial management and matters connected with the state finances, called the proposed reimbursement unnecessary in its feedback last week. “The feeling is that since officials have to bear less travel costs, data usage reimbursement is not necessary at this point,” said one of the officials seeking anonymity.

An expenditure department official, who did not wish to be named, said there is no question of such reimbursement as officials are paid for travel and other costs.