New Delhi, Apr 15: E-Commerce companies, vehicles used by their operators and courier services, will be allowed to operate with necessary permissions, the government said on Wednesday.
From April 20 onwards, cold storage and warehousing services, including at ports, airports, railway stations, container depots and other links in the logistics chain will be allowed to operate, according to consolidated revised guidelines on the measures to be taken by the Ministries, state and UT governments for containment of COVID-19 in the country.
Private security services and facilities management services for maintenance and upkeep of office and residential complexes will also be allowed to operate.
Services provided by self-employed persons like electrician, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters will be allowed to work.
Transportation of goods will be permitted without any distinction of essential or non-essential.
The revised consolidated guidelines are aimed at operating those sectors of the economy, which are critical from the perspective of rural and agricultural development and job creation, while maintaining strict protocols in areas, where safety is paramount to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3. PM Modi also said that detailed guidelines will be issued by the government on Wednesday, which will include stepped-up measures in the coming week.
Manufacturing and other 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 packagings are also allowed. Coal, mineral and oil production are permitted activities. It is expected that the industrial and manufacturing sectors will see a revival with these measures, and will create job opportunities while maintaining safety protocols and social distancing.
To provide an impetus to the rural economy, industries operating in rural areas, including food processing industries; construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and industrial projects in rural areas; works under MGNREGA, with priority to irrigation and water conservation works; and operation of rural Common Service Centres, have all been allowed.
These activities will create job opportunities for rural labour, including the migrant labour force.
The activities permitted under the revised guidelines, from April 20, will not be allowed within the containment zones as demarcated by States, UTs, District Administrations, as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
At the same time, the important components of the financial sector, Reserve Bank of India and RBI regulated financial markets and entities like NPCI, CCIL, payment system operators and standalone operators, will remain operational.
