Lockdown Guidelines: Select activities in Agriculture, IT, e-commerce to resume from April 20

The Ministry of Home Affairs released lockdown guidelines on Wednesday for enforcing the second phase of the coronavirus lockdown, with the Union home ministry barring all kinds of public transport and prohibiting the opening of public places during this period. Inter-state, inter-district movement of people, metro, bus services continue will be prohibited till May 3, the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines said.

According to the latest guidelines issued by the MHA, economic activities like agriculture, IT, e-commerce will be allowed after April 20.

"The revised consolidated guidelines are aimed at operating those sectors of the economy which are critical from the perspective of rural and agricultural development and job creation while maintaining strict protocols in areas where safety is paramount to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country," said the guidelines released by the MHA.

Meanwhile, educational institutions, coaching centres, domestic and international air travel as well as train services will remain suspended till May 3 to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country. Public places like cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, bars will also be shut till May 3, the new lockdown period declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall be closed for public till May 3, it said.

According to the guidelines, good processing, manufacturing units and industries will be allowed in rural areas amid the coronavirus lockdown. The supply chain of milk, milk products, poultry and live-stock farming and tea, coffee and rubber plantations will resume.

"To provide an impetus to the rural economy, industries operating in rural areas, including food processing industries; construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and industrial projects in rural areas; works under MNREGA, with priority to irrigation and water conservation works; and operation of rural Common Service Centres (CSCs) have all been allowed."

The latest guidelines by the home ministry stated that construction activities in the rural areas will be allowed during the coronavirus lockdown. Construction activities in municipal (urban) areas will only be allowed if workers are staying on-site.

Lockdown guidelines issued by the Home Ministry revealed Manufacturing of essential items including pharmaceutical products will continue despite lockdown curbs. Also, Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) works will also be allowed provided that all these activities in-state/Union Territories

The nation-wide lockdown is aimed to contain the spread of the pandemic that has killed over 370 people and infected over 11,000 in the country.

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