MHA issues guidelines to start certain activities in non-hotspots
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the ongoing lockdown by nearly three more weeks, the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued a set of guidelines that virtually opens up the economic activities from April 20 across the country except in the “hotspots” areas. All banks, postal and insurance and all Government offices will also be start working with full-fledged operations after April 20.
The 13-page guidelines allow opening up of industries, agriculture, truck movements of all kind of goods, and offices with strict social distancing norms from April 20 in all areas except those notified as “hotspots” of Covid-19 pandemic.
All those working in these premises will be required to cover their faces with masks or traditional clothes. Railways and civil aviations sector will remain under the purview of the lockdown and enjoy no exemption. No public transport, including cycle rickshaws, will be allowed to play on the roads, either. Educational institutes, malls, cinema halls and sale of alcohol, tobacco, gutkha, and spitting on roads will be banned across India till May 3, the last day of the lockdown.
In the guidelines issued to the States and Union Territories, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the States and district administration can add up restrictions subject to the situation on the ground. The circular also directs that all office in charges or CEOs of the companies should ensure the social distancing norms, prevent gathering of more than five persons in office areas, ensure shifts and cleaning and sanitising of the premises.
The State Governments will announce the notification of the designated hotspots on April 20 and no entry and exit will be allowed in these areas. The essential services will be delivered by the administration at the doorsteps.
In the non-hotspot areas, after April 20, all medical facilities and allied institutions and medical shops, all agricultural, horticultural, including sales in mandis and movements of trucks for carrying all kind of goods, will be permitted.
All banks, postal and insurance and all Government offices will be start working with full-fledged operations after April 20. However, the MHA circular said that all offices and industries and private organisations should ensure social distancing norms, sanitisation and shift-based working especially in IT sector. The office in charges should ensure that there should be no gathering of more than five persons in office premises and sanitization of premises and bathrooms on regular intervals in a day.
Apart from Agriculture, MGNREGA works, construction of roads, infrastructure, irrigation, and fisheries are also be started after April 20 across the country except in the hotspot areas. However no public transport is allowed till the May 3, last date of lockdown. No rail, air, metro, bus, taxis, auto rickshaws even cycle rickshaws will be allowed across the country. Only trucks carrying all sort of goods with a driver and a helper is allowed. Truck repairing and dhabhas on highways are allowed with strict social distancing norms.
Common Service Centres (CSCs) approved by the Government at gram panchayat level are allowed to work after April 20. Private security services and facilities management services will ensure the security and maintenance of office complexes. Hotels, homestays, lodges and motels which are accommodating tourists stranded due to lockdown are also allowed. Services by electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters are enlisted as allowed to operate after April 20 in the MHA’s circular.