Coronavirus Lockdown Will Extend but Some Industries Can Get Partial Exemption. Know which one!

The coronavirus spread has failed to cease and each day cases are increasing massively.

In this backdrop, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday through video conferencing held a meeting with Chief Ministers of various states and a consensus has been reached to increase the lockdown. Some states have also increased it at their level. The central government may also soon announce an increase in lockdown for the entire month of April. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the lockdown for the first time and gave the mantra ‘Jaan hai to Jahan hai’. On Saturday, he said that the new mantra is now, ‘Jaan bhi jahan bhi’. That is, the PM can bring flexibility in economic activities in some sectors amidst lockdown so that the revival of economy can start.

Let us see which are the areas in which economic activities are likely to start :

Partial exemption to industries suggested

Union Ministers has also suggested to the Prime Minister that industries should be partially exempted from lockdown. According to a news agency, in a letter to Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the department has said that it is necessary to start some economic activities to improve the economic situation and to bring cash in the hands of the people. It states that this exit plan has been prepared after talks with various states and industry organizations. These should be taken into account while taking a final decision on the lockdown period and its provisions. The letter said that the Agriculture Ministry may send a separate recommendation in this regard to the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Permission to these industries is possible :

Optic fiber cables, powerlooms, pulp and paper units, fertilizers, compressor and condenser units, steel and ferrous alloy mills, paints, plastics, vehicle units, gems and jewellery and SEZ and export related companies may be permitted. 

Industries related to transformers and circuit vehicles, telecom equipment and components and food and beverages can also work to a certain extent in the lockdown.

This is the proposal by the Department of Industries :

• Refrigerators, TVs, AC repairers can work by managing security
• Seeing the need, there should be no restriction on the work of washer man, carpenter and electrician
• Many important industries can work in a shift with minimum staff
• Permission to work in all three shifts with safety standards in cement industry

Production in the first phase can start here

There is a suggestion from the cabinet ministers that industries connected with road construction, manufacture of essential commodities may be allowed to start production in the first phase. If an industry gives a blue print to start industrial activity while avoiding the spread of corona, it can also be approved. But the industry has to tell what is its preventive measures. For example, the industry should ensure a disinfectant ward or a sanitization camp in the factory where all workers should be sanitised before and after entering the industry, a hospital nearby and work with a minimum workforce. It is said that a waiver has been made to give relaxation to small and medium scale industries so that workers can also be employed.

Emphasis on starting road construction

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has especially advocated to start the road construction work. He has also held a meeting with the officials. He said that construction of roads can be started by taking measures to keep it safe from Corona. 

However, one problem can be an impediment to the proposed advice. Workers in road construction come from far-flung states and many of them have returned to their villages, while some are in camps. Their availability can pose a problem however this issue is also being discussed.