The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed operational activities subject to revised guidelines to be followed by the States and Union Territories having regard to strict compliance. The Government under Section 10(2)(I) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 has issued certain directives to be followed while carrying out the activities. The relaxations will however not be applicable in...
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed operational activities subject to revised guidelines to be followed by the States and Union Territories having regard to strict compliance. The Government under Section 10(2)(I) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 has issued certain directives to be followed while carrying out the activities. The relaxations will however not be applicable in the ‘Hotspots’ or containment zones.
The MHA has emphasized that Hotspots or clusters with significant outbreak of COVID-19 or Coronavirus, containment zones will be demarcated and it should be strictly ensured that there is no inward/outward movement of population except for maintaining essential services.
The following activities shall remain closed till 3rd May 2020.
1. All types of Public transport.
2. Educational, training and coaching institutes.
3. All cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, assembly halls, auditoriums etc.
4. Social, political, sports, academic, entertainment, religious gatherings.
5. All places of worship to remain closed for public.
The Government has allowed selected permitted activities w.e.f. 20 April 2020.
The Government has allowed certain activities to mitigate hardship to the public which are:
1. Agricultural and horticultural activities.
2. Health services
3. Manufacturing units of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, drugs.
4. Fisheries – both Marine and Inland
5. ‘Mandis’ operated by Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), farming operations, manufacture and distribution of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds.
6. Animal husbandry and related activities.
7. In the Financial sector, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), ATMs, SEBI and standalone primary dealers can operate.
8. MNREGA works are to be allowed with priority to water conservation and irrigation
9. Operation of Anganwadis have been allowed by distributing food items at the doorsteps of beneficiaries.
10. Operations of post offices, distribution of LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene, and operations of oil and gas sector shall remain functional.
11. Construction activities such as roads, irrigation projects, renewable energy projects, construction of MSMEs in rural areas to remain operational.
12. Operations of tea, coffee and rubber plantations with maximum of 50% workers.
13. e-Commerce operations
14. Courier services
15. Government approved Common Service Centres (CSCs) at Gram Panchayat levels.
16. Data and Call centres shall operate for Government activities only.
There is also a penal provision which states that any person found to be violating the lockdown measures is liable to be proceeded as per sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 besides legal action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).