New Delhi: At this crucial time, when India is fighting the pandemic – coronavirus, the chief of Visakhapatnam’s municipal body – Srijana Gummalla decided to return to her office with her month-old baby in her arms to do her bit for the country. The officer said it is the call of duty that motivated her to join office on priority. The officer joined the office immediately after delivering her baby boy and decided to give away her maternity leaves that are every women’s right in the country. Speaking to NDTV, Srijana Gummalla, Commissioner of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation said,
I went to the office in the morning and my son was born in the evening. Today, with the coronavirus outbreak, the circumstances are such. I requested the Chief Minister to allow me to rejoin and he asked me if I was completely sure. I am grateful that he allowed me.
She further said,
As a human being, it is my response to be of some help to the administration. I felt that this is the time we should all stand together and be of strength to each other. I understand that maternity right is the right that has won over after many struggles. But in this crucial time, I have decided not to exercise my right and join back to duty as me being in my job right now is more relevant than any other times.
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Highlighting more details of her work and what all precautions she is taking being a new mother at this time of the pandemic, Mrs Gummalla added,
Most of our work requires going out in the fields, we need to go out and check on the sanitation drives or the surveillance work that is being done. Fieldworks are a huge part of life in our domain, but being a new mother, I do take all the necessary precautions. I come back every 3-4 hours to breastfeed my baby, I am also trying to do work as much as possible on video or telephonic conferences. I am very careful about where I go and who I meet. Most importantly, I am careful in the way I sanitise myself after I come back from any fieldwork.
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The 2013-batch IAS officer has won many praises on social media for her courage to come back to work with her month-old baby.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat praised the officer and expressed gratitude for attending to the “call of duty”. He said,
The country is fortunate to have such corona warriors. My heartfelt gratitude for this living example of commitment to duty.
कोरोना संकट में अपने कर्तव्य की पुकार पर अपने 1 माह के बच्चे के साथ ग्रेटर विशाखापट्टनम की नगर आयुक्त श्रीमती सृजना गुम्माला वापस ड्यूटी पर लौट आईं।
भाग्यशाली है यह राष्ट्र जहां ऐसे कोरोना योद्धा है। कर्तव्य निष्ठा के इस जीवंत उदाहरण के लिए आपका हृदय से आभार।#NoCoronaPolitics pic.twitter.com/7md7CxKRp2— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) April 12, 2020
BJP leader BL Santhosh added,
She is Smt Srijana Gummala, Greater Vishakaatnam Municipal Commissioner.. She returned to her work with her 1 month old baby in hand to duty . The crisis made her to answer the call of duty. Nation is lucky to have such Corona Warriors.
She is Smt Srijana Gummala … Greater Vishakaatnam Municipal Commissioner…. She returned to her work with her 1 month old baby in hand to duty .. The crisis made her to answer the call of duty ..
Nation is lucky to have such Corona Warriors … ???????????? pic.twitter.com/h5VAtfRSPx
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) April 12, 2020
Apart from leaders, even Twitter users gave a big thumbs up to the officer.
All hail woman power! IAS officer in Andhra Pradesh goes back to work with her one month old baby in arms. pic.twitter.com/FpXmprmOMO
— Anjali B. (@TheWayfarerSoul) April 13, 2020
Hats off to her spirit and dedication towards duty for the nation in need.
A young IAS officer in Andhra Pradesh returned to office The country is fortunate to have such corona warriors.#motivation #inspiration
Source: NDTV, 14th April pic.twitter.com/Yixv8a1iAV
— Studio45 – Digital Marketing Agency (@studio45in) April 14, 2020
I salute Mrs.Srijana Gummala who is the Municipal Commissioner of Greater Vishakapatnam & is the
mother of a 1 month old baby.
She has returned to work, with her baby in her arms, because of COVID19 crisis. Yes, she has given up her maternity leave to serve the Nation.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/usYi95hVGb— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) April 12, 2020
Extraordinary feather of 2013 batch IAS officer Gummala Srijana serving as Commissioner Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation refused to take 06 months maternal leave and she joined back her Office with one month old baby in lap. Truly inspiring to all. pic.twitter.com/ekw9Di6vgq
— THIRUMAL (@ThirumalWnp) April 11, 2020
Must applaud this IAS officer Srijana Gummala, who returned to office with Month-Old Baby In Arms, Andhra Pradesh https://t.co/Sj9FEBe5fz
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) April 13, 2020
