Around 4,55,000 people have been globally affected by COVID19 so far. In India, the number crossed more than 610. It is indeed a situation that tests the capability of the States to handle a crisis. Luckily, the Indian government has not failed to realise this fact. And therefore, along with most of the countries in this world, it has also taken a decision to tentatively lockdown the entire country till the 14th of April to contain this virus. However, there is a list of essential services that will remain operational. The order from the government says:
Offices Of the Government Of India, its Autonomous/ Subordinate Offices and Public Corporations shall remain closed.
Exceptions:
Defence, central armed police forces, treasury, public utilities (including petroleum, CNG, LPG, PNG), disaster management, power generation and transmission units, post offices, National Informatics Centre, Early Warning Agencies.
2. Offices of the State/ Union Territory Governments, their Autonomous Bodies, Corporations, etc. shall remain closed.
Exceptions:
Police, home guards, civil defence, fire and emergency services, disaster management, and prisons. District administration and Treasury Electricity, water, sanitation Municipal bodies—Only staff required for essential services like sanitation, personnel related to water supply etc
The above offices (Sl. No 1 & 2) should work with minimum number Of employees. All other offices may continue to work-from-home only.
3. Hospitals and all related medical establishments, including their manufacturing and distribution units, both in public and private sector, such as dispensaries, chemist and medical equipment shops, laboratories, clinics, nursing homes, ambulance etc. will continue to remain functional. The transportation for all medical personnel, nurses, para-medical staff, other hospital support services be permitted.
4.Commercial and private establishments shall be closed down.
Exceptions:
Shops, including ration shops (under PDS), dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal fodder. However, district authorities may encourage and facilitate home delivery to minimize the movement of individuals outside their homes. Banks, insurance offices, and ATMs. Print and electronic media Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services. IT and IT enabled Services only (for essential services) and as far as possible to work from home. Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through E-commerce.
- Industrial Establishments will remain closed.
Exceptions:
a. Manufacturing units of essential commodities
b. Production units, which require continuous process after obtaining required permission from the state government - All transport services air. rail, roadways will remain suspended.
Exceptions:
a. Transportation for essential goods only b. Fire, law and order and emergency services.
- Hospitality Services to remain suspended
Exceptions:
Hotels, homestays, lodges and motels. which are accommodating tourists and persons stranded due to lockdown, medical and emergency staff, air and sea crew, b. Establishments used! earmarked for quarantine facilities. - All educational, training, research. coaching institutions etc. shall remain closed.
9. All places of worship shall be closed for public. No religious congregations will be permitted, without any exception. - All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions/ gatherings shall be barred.
11. In case of funerals, congregation of not more than twenty persons will be permitted.
12. All persons who have arrived into India after 15.02.2020. and all such persons who have been directed by health care personnel to remain under strict home/ institutional quarantine for a period as decided by local Health Authorities, failing which they will be liable to legal action under Sec. 188 oi the IPC.
13. Wherever exceptions to above containment measures have been allowed. the organisations/employers must ensure necessary precautions against COVID 19 virus, as well as social distance measures, as advised by the Health Department from time to time.
14. In order to implement these containment measures, the District Magistrate will deploy Executive Magistrates as Incident Commanders in the respective local jurisdictions. The Incident Commander will be responsible for the overall implementation of these measures in their respective jurisdictions. All other line department officials in the specified area will work under the directions of such incident commander. The Incident Commander will issue passes for enabling essential movements as explained. - All enforcing authorities to note that these strict restrictions fundamentally relate to the movement of people, but not to that of essential goods.
- The Incident Commanders will, in particular, ensure that all efforts for mobilisation of resources, workers and material for augmentation and expansion of hospital infrastructure shall continue without any hindrance.
- Any person violating these containment measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51-60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC (as per appendix).
- The above containment measures will remain in force, in all parts of the country, for a period of 21 days with effect from 25.03.2020.
Modi govt is also pondering upon unveiling an economic package of ₹1.5 lakh crore to help the vulnerable sections of our society.
There have been measures from the State government as well. Kerala, for instance, was the first state to offer a far-reaching alleviation package to the poor, worth Rs 20,000 crore. The package incorporates advances for families under its Kudumbashree plot. The Pinarayi Vijayan led government has additionally permitted deferred payment of water and power bills. The legislature has said the state will guarantee that no one goes hungry, and plans to begin a networked kitchen in each panchayat. After the national lockdown was declared, Vijayan said a committed number has been relegated where individuals can make a free call and get nourishment conveyed to their area.
Karnataka’s B.S. Yediyurappa government has reported credit waivers for the urban poor, Rs 1,000 for development labourers who have been rendered jobless, and advance instalment of wages to recipients of the provincial business ensure plot. The legislature had chosen to permit free nourishment to be served through the Indira Canteens, the evolved way of life it runs, to support workers and individuals from the sloppy segment eat as cafés have been closed. In any case, the tremendous surge at the bottles constrained the legislature to close them down because of fears of network spread of the coronavirus. Presently, the administration has looked for the assistance of the police and other basic assistance offices to help appropriate free nourishment and clean water to the destitute and those out of luck.
The Maharashtra government has additionally distributed Rs 45 crore to regions most exceedingly influenced by the Covid-19 episode. Thackeray has spoken to organizations, including small entrepreneurs, to not fire their staff during this period. The Maharashtra work chief has guided work division authorities to give warnings right now managers and proprietors everything being equal.
Similarly, Tamil Nadu has guaranteed one month’s free ration, including rice, cooking oil, heartbeats and sugar, to all ration cardholders. The Edappadi Palaniswami government has also guaranteed money backing of Rs 1,000 to them.
The Andhra Pradesh government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy has reported that all administration and private foundations will make instalments of wages and pay rates to those working, under an agreement or outsourcing basis, during the lockdown. It has also said that if any business is found disregarding this request, they would be punished under the Epidemics Diseases Act, 1897.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee declared on Monday that the state government is making a Rs 200 crore store to manage the effect of Covid-19.
UP was likewise probably the most punctual state to declare money related help for workers. Last Saturday, the state government declared it will give Rs 1,000 to each of the around 35 lakh workers as ‘support remittance’. Yogi Adityanath has additionally guided his authorities to discharge instalments for labourers enrolled under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal additionally declared on 21 March that his legislature will pay Rs 4,000-5,000 benefits to 8.5 lakh recipients by 7 April. It will also give free rations, with 50% more amount than ordinary qualifications, to 72 lakh recipients.
Nitish Kumar has chosen to give free rations for a month to all ration cardholders. The Bihar government has additionally declared three months of advance benefits for the older, impaired people and widows, Rs 1,000 money related help to families in lockdown regions (before the entire nation went under lockdown), and a presentation reward equal to one month’s pay to the health workers engaging with Coronavirus.
