As India goes into the second phase of lockdown, to curb the spread of coronavirus, here are the new rules that citizens of the country will need to abide by starting April 20. By Tanvi Jain
View this post on Instagram
While the restrictions on international as well as domestic travel remain as is, schools, colleges, shopping malls, movie theatres, and small business, barring those providing essential services like groceries and medical supplies, will also remain shut. Similarly, the ban imposed on all kinds of public gatherings, be it social, political or religious, won’t be lifted either.
Apart from this, the Government has given green signal to the agricultural sector, including, dairy, aquaculture, tea, coffee and rubber plantations, along with shops selling farming products such as fertilisers and machinery.
View this post on Instagram
Moreover, public works programmes, which are an important source of employment for daily wage workers have also been allowed to reopen, under strict social distancing instructions. Trucks, trains and planes carrying cargo have also been permitted to operate, considering the supply crunch that India has faced in the recent weeks, with many goods being stuck at state borders. Similarly, ports full of uncollected goods and unloaded containers will also reopen, and so will manufacturing units in rural areas, and factories in industrial areas, provided, they give their employees onsite accommodations. Furthermore, banks and government centres distributing social security benefits and pensions, have also been allowed to reopen.
View this post on Instagram
The new rules will prove to be very beneficial for the agricultural sector, as it accounts for 15 per cent of the country’s GDP. Besides, with the courier services restarting from April 20, the e-commerce sector will also be back on its feet, mainly helping small retailers who depend mostly on online orders. And once cargo restrictions are lifted, many goods which were earlier in short supply will likely be back in stock.
Furthermore, the ones who are self-employed such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters will also be able to resume work. Food stalls and eateries located on highways will also be reopened for cargo transporters to get full access to food.
View this post on Instagram
Despite all these relaxations allowed by the government in the second phase of the lockdown, an important point that needs to be kept in mind is that none of these relaxations will be allowed in the containment zones. The state and district officials will keep a regular tab on virus hotspots, which will further be sealed off as well, and only emergency and police vehicles will be allowed to enter such areas.
Related: #SomeGoodNews: 25 Indian Districts Show No New COVID-19 Cases In The Past 2 Weeks
