Focus should be on reducing COVID-19 transmission rate, increasing public activity gradually: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said reduction of transmission rate of vel coronavirus and gradual increase in public activities while adhering to all guidelines are "twofold" challenges and w Centre and states will have to work towards achieving twin objectives.

Addressing chief ministers via a video conference, prime minister also said he is of "firm view that measures needed in first phase of lockdown were t needed during second phase and similarly measures needed in third phase are t needed in fourth," according to an official statement.

prime minister reaffirmed importance of 'do gaz doori' (a distance of two yards) and added that suggestion of "night curfew" raised by many chief ministers would surely reaffirm feeling of caution among people. Referring to resumption of train services, Modi said it was needed to rev up ecomic activity. But, he made it clear that services on all routes will t be resumed and that only a limited number of trains would ply.

Nearly two months after it suspended operations of passenger trains over coronavirus crisis, railways will resume services with 15 pairs of trains on select routes from Tuesday. Referring to twin objectives, he said "We can w focus our strategy in this battle against coronavirus, as should be case. We have a twofold challenge to reduce transmission rate of disease, and to increase public activity gradually, while adhering to all guidelines. We will have to work towards achieving both se objectives."

As thousands of migrant workers reach ir native states on board special trains, PM Modi also emphasised on need to stop spread of COVID-19 to rural areas. Rendered jobless due to lockdown, scores of migrant workers have started returning to ir home states.

About concerns raised by several chief ministers during lockdown period, Modi said suggestions made by states for a "roadmap on ecomy" have been given "due consideration". prime minister asked chief ministers to share by May 15 a broad strategy on how y want to deal with lockdown regime in ir states.

"I request you all to share with me by May 15, a broad strategy on how each one of you would want to deal with lockdown regime in your particular states. I want states to make a blueprint on how to deal with various nuances during and after gradual easing of lockdown," he said.

chief ministers in ir suggestions on reviving ecomy have sought support to micro, small and medium enterprises, infrastructure projects such as power, easing of interest rates on loans and assured market access to agricultural produce, statement said. Compulsory quarantining of stranded Indians returning from abroad by air and sea routes was also highlighted.

PM Modi said, "We must understand that world has fundamentally changed post COVID-19."

"w world will be pre-corona, post-corona just like case of world wars. And this would entail significant changes in how we function," PM was quoted as saying in statement.

PM Modi pointed out that new way of life would be on principle of "Jan se lekar jag tak" (from an individual to whole of humanity).

"We must all plan for new reality," he said.

prime minister said country will need an all-encompassing approach to deal with various challenges that will arise before it.

"With onset of monsoon, re will be proliferation of many n-COVID-19 diseases, for which we must prepare and strengn our medical and health systems," he said.

PM Modi asked policy-makers to also keep in mind how to embrace new models of teaching and learning in education sector. Referring to tourism, prime minister said he saw potential for domestic tourism "but we need to think of contours of same". Modi said he continues to feel optimistic as t even a single state sounded despondent and that this collective determination will make India win fight against COVID-19. He also pointed out that post-COVID era will also bring opportunities that India must lever.