On April 14, PM Modi announced about the extension of lockdown by another 19 days to keep the citizens safe from COVID-19.
Today, the Ministry Of Home Affairs has announced a list of economic activities that will be permitted after April 20, 2020 in certain areas. This has been done keeping in focus the interests of farmers and daily wager earners. The govt. has given some relief to the industrial sector. Manufacturing units and industries functioning from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have also been given relief to operate during the lockdown.
However, this allowance has made it clear that the states should first prepare everything before allowing the resumption of activities.
MHA issues National Directives for #COVID19 management reg. Wearing of face cover in public places; #SocialDistancing; restrictions on Social Gatherings; fines on spitting in public places and SOPs at work places/factories.#Lockdown2 #LockdownExtended#StayHomeStaySafe pic.twitter.com/StwdAWag1M
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 15, 2020
Below is the list of guidelines for maintaining social distancing at offices, workplace and factories.
1. A strict ban has been imposed on the sale of tobacco, gutka and liquor during the lockdown period. Spitting has been made a punishable offence.
2. The government has allowed industries functioning in rural areas, that is outside municipal areas, to resume operations from April 30 but with strict social distancing norms.
3. Gatherings of funerals and marriages will be monitored and regulated by the District Magistrate.
4. Manufacturing and industrial establishments functioning in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Export Oriented Units (EOU), industrial estates and industrial townships have been allowed to resume operations after April 20. These establishments will have to make arrangements for the stay and transport of its workers as per requirements.
5. Manufacturing units producing essential goods such as drugs, medicines etc have been allowed to function.
6. All educational, training institution etc shall remain closed, taxis (including auto and cycle rickshaws) and services of cab aggregators to remain prohibited until May 3. Cinema halls, malls, shopping/sports complexes, gyms, swimming pools, theaters, bars etc to remain closed till May 3.
7. Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public places, workplaces. Spitting in public places shall be punishable with fine.
8. Work spaces have been asked to conduct screening of all employees and maintain a gap of 1 hour in between shifts and stagger lunch breaks etc.
9. All international, domestic flights remain suspended till May 3. All train services will also remain suspended.
10. All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall be closed for public till May 3.
11. From April 20, when there will be some relaxations in areas that are not coronavirus hotspots, activities will be permitted, including agricultural, horticultural, farming, procurement of agri products, ‘mandis’.
12. Shops of farm machinery, its spare parts, supply chain, repairs, ‘Custom Hiring Centres’ related to machinery to remain open from Apr 20.
13. Highway ‘dhabas’, truck repairing shops, call centres for governmentt activities to remain open from April 20.
14. Grocery stores, fruit, v8egetables shops or carts, milk booths, poultry, meat and fish shops to remain open during lockdown.
15. Services provided by self-employed electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters to be allowed from April 20.
16. Exemptions given from April 20 will not be applicable in COVID-19 hotspots or containment zones.
17. MNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and use of face masks.
18. Bank branches and ATMs, IT vendors for banking operations, banking correspondents, ATM operation and cash management agencies to remain functional.
19. All agricultural and horticultural activities to remain fully functional, such as farming operations by farmers and farm workers in field, agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations.
20. List of all hospitals and medical facilities dealing with COVID-19 shall be put up at all workplaces.
Source: IndiaToday
