New guidelines from Union Government related to relaxation of certain sectors
Tuesday, 30th June 2020
This Monday it was announced by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) that the Union Government will not be giving any further relaxations during this Unlock India Phase 2 and certain sectors like the auditoriums, cinema halls, assembly halls, theatres, pubs and bars, entertainment parks, schools, colleges, gymnasiums, educational institutes, swimming pools etc and even the metro rail services will continue to remain closed until the 31st of July, 2020.
Similarly no permission will be given for any large congregation or social, cultural, political, religious, entertainment or sports events.
The Phase 1 of Unlock India ends on 30th of June 2020 and phase 2 starts from the 1st of July. The new guidelines will be followed from the 1st of July 2020.
“Dates for opening of these will be decided separately, based on the assessment of the situation,” said the Ministry of Home Affairs. It further said: “Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till July 31. These zones are required to be carefully demarcated by the state, UT governments with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,"
The MHA also added that perimeter control will be followed strictly in the country’s containment zones and no other activity other than the essential ones will be allowed.
Domestic as well as international flights (those coming under the Government’s Vande Bharat mission) and also passenger trains, running already in limited numbers, will be fine-tuned and expanded further as per the statements of the MHA.
Citing the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that these activities would be permitted later. The guidelines read: “The date for opening up these services will be decided separately and necessary SOPs shall be issued,”
An effort has however been made on the part of the government to make things easier for the country’s economic units such as shops and industries.
The timings of Night Curfew have been relaxed too and the timings will be from 10 pm onwards to 5 am now. This, as it is expected, will allow the shifting duty system in the country’s manufacturing units.
“Further relaxation in night curfew has been given for seamless operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on state and national highways, loading and unloading of cargo and movement of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes,” said MHA in a statement. Restrictions pertaining to customers within shops have been relaxed too. Previously, it was only 5 people at a time. But, now 5+ customers can be in a shop at a time but they do need to follow the social distancing regulations.
International flights will not be allowed. However, as per last week’s report from News18, certain domains could expect reopening but orders for that are yet to come. The statement read: “International air travel, except as permitted by MHA, will be on prohibited list,”
Officials stated that in response to the allegations from UAE and USA regarding monopoly observed by Air India as part of the Government’s Vande Bharat Mission, some sort of relaxations may be allowed on those routes. The SOPs regarding this is likely to be issued in the near future.
The Centre and State-run training institutes are likely to receive permission to function, but that’ll come only after discussing the matter with the States as well as Union Territories.
The state of West Bengal wishes to restart Metro services but experts from the central government feel that it would be an impractical move to restart such services as the AC running inside the closed metro coaches could only trigger the virus’s spread.
However, Central government has bestowed powers on the governments of the various Indian states and so, they’ll have all the liberty to make rules and limit services where they think it to be necessary and in interest of public welfare. The city administration of cities like Guwahati and Chennai, for example, have declared another round of 14 days of lockdown and that will not be influenced by the Centre.
Movement of goods and people from one state to another or within the state will not be subject to any restriction. No e-permit or special permission will be needed for the same.
COVID-19 management related National Directive need to be followed countrywide with the purpose of highlighting the importance of social distancing.
Shops will have to see to it that physical distancing is observed adequately by the customers. The MHA would make sure that all national directives are effectively implemented.
Vulnerable groups like those who are beyond 65 year, those who have co-morbidities, children who are less than 10 years of age and women who are pregnant are advised not to go out unless it is absolutely necessary. The MHA further said that the public will be encouraged to make use of the Aarogya Setu mobile app.
Passenger travel, 'Shramik Special' trains, domestic air travel by passengers, traveling by the Indian citizens stranded out of the country, traveling to foreign lands by specific groups of people, evacuation of the foreign nationals who had come to India and the like be controlled by regulations offered during the issuing of SOPs.
The total number of invitees in a marriage function should not go beyond 50 while the total number of visitors to a funeral should be over 20.
Fine will be charged of all those who spit in the public places and it will be considered a punishable offence as laid down by local, state or UT authorities and the rules, regulations and laws related to such authorities. The MHA also said that consumption of tobacco, paan, gutka and liquor in public will be strictly prohibited.
Work from home mode of work needs to be followed as far as possible. Staggering of duty hours as well as business hours needs to be adhered to in case of shops, markets, offices, workplaces, commercial and industrial setups.
Source: News 18