Fact Check: Has the Ministry of Home Affairs permitted states to re-open schools?

Origin:

As air travel services were resumed throughout country from May 25, and states ordered multiple relaxations in phase 4 of Coronavirus lockdown, morphed ims of a TV news channel were forwarded on WhatsApp claiming that Union Home Ministry has ordered to re-open schools. It furr claimed that Home Secretary has sent a letter to all states giving permission about same.

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Fact Check

As im started going viral on social media, spokesperson of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday clarified that such orders have been issued. Indian government has shut down all educational institutions since it anunced lockdown on March 24, to prevent spread of Covid-19. Even as various restrictions were eased gradually in different phases, MHA has t yet anunced re-opening of schools, colleges, etc. 

MHA took to Twitter on Wednesday and shared screenshot of fake claim and said: " such decision taken by MHA. All Educational institutions are still prohibited to open, throughout country."

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Over last few days, a number of states have intimated that y plan to open up schools, with Tripura and Sikkim seemingly intent on a mid-June date. It remains to be seen how this works with MHA's guidelines.

Lockdown in India

first phase of lockdown was anunced on March 24 for a duration of three weeks. To contain virus, government in that phase had only allowed a handful of essential services. Centre n extended lockdown till May 3 but eased a few restrictions. As cases increased, lockdown was furr extended till May 17 but focus was w given to boost ecomy that was severely affected.  centre allowed several activities and various sectors were opened up, including factories and industries in areas outside municipal limits. n- essential services were also allowed to open except in Red zones and in containment areas.

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Lockdown 4.0:  states/UTs under this phase have been given power to prohibit restrictions in various zones as deemed necessary. 

List of prohibited activities 

1.  All domestic and international air travel of passengers barring for medical purposes, air ambulance, security and or purposes permitted by MHA
2. Metro rail services
3. All educational institutions
4.  Hotels, restaurants, and or hospitality services except for those housing frontline workers
5. Cinema halls, swimming pools, shopping malls, gyms, entertainment parks, atres, bars, auditoriums
6. All kind of garings
7. Movement of people between 7 pm and 7 am except for essential services
8. Consumption of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc. in public places

List of permitted activities:

1. Distance education
2.  Running of canteens at bus depots, railway stations, and airports
3. Home delivery of food items by restaurants
4. Sports complexes and stadiums without presence of spectators
5. Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, subject to mutual consent of states/UTs concerned
6.  Intra-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by states/UTs
7. Inter-state and intra-state movement of medical professionals, sanitation workers, and ambulances
8. Inter-state movement of all types of goods/cargo including empty trucks
9. Cross land-border trade with neighbouring countries
10. All or activities which are t specifically prohibited. For instance: Shops, offices, businesses, etc. 

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