Lockdown 2.0 Guideline: Know who will get relaxation since April 20

The second phase of lockdown has started across the country, which will run till May 3. Meanwhile, the government on Wednesday released a new guideline for this, under which relaxation in low-risk areas is also given. This exemption will be applicable from April 20 in Corona-free areas. In view of the harvesting and the beginning of the new sowing season in the coming days, special work has been given to the farming-related work. However, the standards of social distancing will be strictly followed during this period. Construction activities have also been given limited leeway with conditions.

Know what works will be available after April 20-

According to the ministry, the purpose of the activities, that will be allowed after April 20, will be that agriculture and farming and its related work should continue.

Exemption to industries working in rural areas (which are not under Municipal Corporation or Municipality)

According to the guidelines, business activities have been allowed in a limited scope in rural areas. According to the guidelines, the industry has been exempted in the rural area, but the condition is that it does not come in the area of urban MCD. Special economic zones are also included in the areas which have been granted concession, but social distance will have to be maintained in these areas.

Exemption will be granted to manufacturing and other industrial institutions, export-linked units in the Special Economic Zone with conditions. These industries can start their work, but they will also have to arrange for workers to stay in their premises. Employers will be responsible for bringing the workers to the workplace and will have to comply with social distancing standards during this period.

• There will be exemption to the units connected with the manufacturing of essential goods including medicine, pharma, medical devices and raw materials
• Food processing units will be allowed to work in rural areas
• Relaxation of manufacturing of IT hardware
• Exemption of Manufacturing Units of Packaging Materials
• Exemptions to the jute industry, taking care of social distancing in different shifts
• Relaxation of brick kilns in rural areas this time

Relief has been given to food processing, IT hardware, coal industry, mine industry, oil refinery industry, packaging industry and jute industry. These industries will be able to operate from April 20. Along with these, brick kilns have also been allowed to run in rural areas. Road construction, irrigation projects and building construction work have also been exempted from the purview of the ban.

Following construction activities will enjoy exemption

• Road repair and construction, where there is no congestion
• Irrigation projects, building construction
• All types of industrial projects (including micro, small and medium scale industries) in rural areas
• Manufacture of renewable energy
• Construction work even in urban areas but only where workers are available on site
• Plumber, carpenter, motor mechanic

These people can continue their work by creating social distance after 20 April.

IT companies rebate

• Permission to IT-related companies to work with 50 percent strength of the workforce (not in areas identified as risk areas)
• The activities of e-commerce companies, vehicles of their operators have to be allowed

Exemption for rural employment

• MNREGA work will be allowed, strictly following social distancing
• MNREGA works will be strictly followed by social distancing

Priority will be given to works related to irrigation and water conservation in MNREGA.

Relaxation in agriculture and animal husbandry sector

• All activities related to farming will continue, farmers and agricultural laborers will be allowed to work related to harvesting.
• Agricultural equipment shops, their repair and spare parts shops will remain open
• The activities of manufacture and distribution of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides will continue, their shops will be open
• There will be no restriction on the movement of cutting machines (compine) from one state to another.
• Fisheries related activities, transport will continue
• Milk and milk products plants and their supply will continue
• Cattle feed plant, Raw material supply will continue

Permission for private vehicles movement in emergency with conditions

• In case of emergency, there will be only one other than the driver in the four wheeler
• Only one person, that is, driver can ride on a two-wheeler, penalty for violating the rules

Call centers engaged in government work are also exempted

• Data and call center services engaged in government work
• Permission to private security services
• If a person is quarantined but violates the rules then action under Section 188 of IPEs will be taken
• Operation of oil and gas sector will continue, activities related to transportation, distribution, storage and retail related to these will continue.

Exemption of transportation

• Exemption of loading-unloading of goods / cargo
  -Transportation of essential commodities such as petroleum and LPG products, medicines, food items
• All trucks and goodies / carrier vehicles will be exempted, allowing 2 drivers and a helper in a truck
• Trucks repair shops