MHA expands lockdown exemption: Forestry, plantation, construction in rural areas allowed

 Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued fresh exemptions from lockdown restrictions to certain activities in rural areas including farm work in forests and plantations, operations at financial institutions and construction activities with necessary instructions. list of exemptions will come under consolidated revised guidelines to all Ministries/Departments.

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Centre has been updating se guidelines to exempt more and more activities since original guidelines were published on April 15, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi anunced extension of Coronavirus lockdown till May 3. recent order was issued on Thursday.

Following are list of fresh exemptions:

• Collection, harvesting and processing of Mir Forest Produce (MFP)/ n-timber Forest Produce (NTFP) by Scheduled Tribes and or forest dwellers in forest areas;
• Bamboo, coconut, areca nut (supari), cocoa, spices plantations and ir harvesting, processing, packaging, sale and marketing;
• n-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) including Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) and Micro Finance Companies (NBFC--MFIs), with bare minimum staff;
• Cooperative Credit Societies;
• Construction activities in rural areas to include water supply and sanitation, laying/erection of power transmission lines and laying of telecom optical fibre and cable along with related activities.

READ | MHA Relaxes Lockdown rms For More Industries, Anunces Exemptions

Exemptions anunced earlier

MHA had on Wednesday exempted e-commerce operations, operations of IT and IT-enabled services, data and call centres for Government activities, and online teaching and distance learning from strict lockdown curbs. People working in MNREGA, especially those involved in irrigation and water conservation activities, can resume ir duties while maintaining social distancing and wearing masks.

Farming operations, including procurement of agricultural products, agriculture marketing through tified Mandis and direct and decentralized marketing, manufacture, distribution and retail of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds; activities of marine and inland fisheries; animal husbandry activities, including supply chain of milk, milk products, poultry and livestock farming; and tea, coffee and rubber plantations are also allowed to be functional.

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