MHA expands digital economy exemptions in Covid lockdown 2.0: E-commerce, teaching allowed

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a set of detailed guidelines for extended Coronavirus lockdown that will remain in force till May 3.

Among ors, new guidelines state that digital ecomy is critical to services sector and is important for national growth.

"Accordingly, e-commerce operations, operations of IT and IT-enabled services, data and call centres for Government activities, and online teaching and distance learning are all permitted activities w," guidelines says. 

objective of revised guidelines is to consolidate gains achieved during 1st phase of lockdown and furr slow down spread of COVID 19 and at same time provide relief to farmers and labour and daily w earners.

Here are detailed guidelines issued by MHA on Wednesday

Revised Consolidated Guidelines of MHA dated April 15, 2020

Hon’ble Prime Minister, in his address to Nation on April 14, 2020, declared that lockdown in India will have to be extended till May 3, 2020, with a view to arrest spread of COVID-19 in country. Hon’ble Prime Minister also declared that select necessary activities will be allowed to be opened up from April 20, 2020, in identified areas of country.

In pursuance of anuncements of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order dated April 14, 2020, extending lockdown in India till May 3, 2020. Furr, MHA issued ar Order, dated April 15, 2020, to allow select additional activities in areas t demarcated as containment zones by States/ UTs/ District Administrations.

• Along with Order dated April 15, 2020, consolidated revised guidelines have been issued, delineating prohibited activities across country, activities allowed in containment zones, and select permitted activities allowed from April 20, 2020, in rest of country.

objective of revised guidelines is to consolidate gains achieved during 1st phase of lockdown and furr slow down spread of COVID 19 and at same time provide relief to farmers and labour and daily w earners

• activities prohibited across country include travel by air, rail and road; operation of educational and training institutions; industrial and commercial activities; hospitality services; all cinema halls, shopping complexes, atres, etc.; all social, political and or events; and opening of all religious places/ places of worship for members of public, including religious congregations.
• re are certain national guidelines like mandatory homemade face covers at workplaces and in public places, strong hygiene and health care measures like provision of sanitisers, staggered shifts, access control, rmal screening and imposing fines for spitting etc. penalties will be imposed for violation.
• activities permitted under revised guidelines, from April 20, 2020, will t be allowed within containment zones as demarcated by States/ UTs/ District Administrations as per guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHF&W). In se zones, unchecked inward/ outward movement of population would be allowed, except for maintaining essential services, i.e., medical emergencies and law & order duties, and government business continuity.

Very strong containment measures will be implemented in hotspot districts accounting for a large number of COVID 19 cases or with fast growth of cases. Detailed guidelines on delineation of containment zones and containment measures have also been issued. Only essential services are to be permitted in se zones and strict perimeter control and strict restrictions on movement enforced.

permitted activities from April 20, 2020, are aimed at ensuring that agricultural and related activities remain fully functional; rural ecomy functions with maximum efficiency; employment opportunities are created for daily w earners and or members of labour force; select industrial activities are allowed to resume ir operations, with adequate safeguards and mandatory standard operating protocols (SOPs); and digital ecomy. At same time, keeping imperative of containing spread of COVID-19 in country, National Directives for COVID-19 manment have been laid down, which shall be enforced by District Magistrates through fines and penal action as prescribed in Disaster Manment Act, 2005.
 

• Transportation of goods will be permitted without any distinction of essential or n-essential.
• 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 allowed to be functional.
• To provide an impetus to rural ecomy, industries operating in rural areas, including food processing industries; construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and industrial projects in rural areas; works under MNREGA, with priority to irrigation and water conservation works; and operation of rural Common Service Centres (CSCs) have all been allowed. se activities will create job opportunities for rural labour, including migrant labour force.
• Manufacturing and or industrial establishments with access control have been permitted in SEZs, EoUs, industrial estates and industrial townships after implementation of SOP for social distancing. Manufacture of IT hardware and of essential goods and packaging are also allowed. Coal, mineral and oil production are permitted activities. It is expected that industrial and manufacturing sectors will see a revival with se measures, and will create job opportunities while maintaining safety protocols and social distancing. At same time, important components of financial sector, e.g., RBI, banks, ATMs, capital and debt markets as tified by SEBI and insurance companies will also remain functional, with a view to providing eugh liquidity and credit support to industrial sectors.
• Digital ecomy is critical to services sector and is important for national growth. Accordingly, e-commerce operations, operations of IT and IT-enabled services, data and call centres for Government activities, and online teaching and distance learning are all permitted activities w.

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revised guidelines also permit all health services and social sector to remain functional; public utilities to function without any hindrance; supply chain of essential goods to operate without any hindrance; and, important offices of Central and State Governments and local bodies to remain open with required strength.

In sum, revised consolidated guidelines are aimed at operating those sectors of ecomy which are critical from perspective of rural and agricultural development and job creation, while maintaining strict protocols in areas where safety is paramount to contain spread of COVID-19 in country.

meeting is being held by Cabinet Secretary with state Chief Secretaries and DGPs to discuss smooth and effective implementation of revised guidelines that were issued earlier in morning today Principal Secy. to PM, Union Home Secy and Health Secy. are also present. All collectors, SPs municipal commissioners and civil surgeons are also participating in conference.

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