The Centre and the state governments have been providing certain relaxation in different areas and sectors to improve economic undertakings as also to give relief to the citizens of India.
On Sunday dated 26 April 2020, prime minister Narendra Modi said in his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, that the country is in the midst of war and stressed that the people of India need to continue being cautious and take necessary precautions.
On Monday morning, Prime Minister will interact with chief ministers of various states through video conference on the way out in the Covid fight, among clues that the considerations could also concentrate on a graded exit from the current complete lockdown in the country.
After the transmission of the COVID-19 in India, this will be the third video conference of prime minister Narendra Modi with the chief ministers of different states of India. Sources in the government pointed out that apart from talking about the way ahead in coping with the disease, the dialogue could also concentrate on a “graded” exit from the countrywide lockdown, which is scheduled till May 3.
The Centre and the state governments have been providing certain relaxation in different areas and sectors to improve economic activities as also to give relief to the citizens of India. However, a few states are keen on extending the lockdown further than May 3 to make sure that COVID cases are under control.
On Sunday, dated 26 April, 2020, the prime minister Narendra Modi said in his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, that the country is in the midst of a war and stressed that the people of India need to continue being cautious and take necessary precautions. His message of carefulness comes against the backdrop of the Union government and states giving relaxation in lockdown norms to revive different economic undertakings.
“I urge you not to be overconfident. In your over-enthusiasm, you should not think that if the coronavirus has not yet reached your city, village, street or office, it cannot reach now. Never make such kind of a mistake. The experience across the world tells us so much in this regard,” PM said.
Prime minister Narendra Modi mentioned a famous Hindi idiom “Sawdhani hati, durghatna ghati” (accident takes place when caution is reduced) to make his point of view. The Centre has now permitted local and individual shops, including those shops situated in residential complexes, in urban areas to open in the course of this lockdown. However, shops in the markets will remain closed until May 3.
In villages and rural areas, all shops, apart from those in shopping malls, are permitted to open. On Friday, in a late-night order, the Home Ministry also told that malls will remain closed; however, markets in rural areas can open. But, opening of shops situated in COVID-19 hotspot areas and containment zones, sale of non-essential products by e-commerce platforms and sale of liquor will remain be forbidden.
On April 11, in the last interaction, numerous chief ministers had suggested the 21-day lockdown to be extended by two weeks, which was scheduled to complete on April 14 earlier. The prime minister had declared on April 14 that the countrywide lockdown is being extended until May 3.
Before the countrywide lockdown was declared on March 24, the prime minister, Narendra Modi,on March 20, had discussed with the chief ministers of different states about methods to control the transmission of the novel coronavirus.
