Allows functioning of MGNREGA, construction, manufacturing sectors
United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 15: The Union Government on Wednesday issued new guidelines for the extended lockdown period, allowing people to work in construction, manufacturing and other related sectors, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee ACT (MGNREGA).
According to the new guidelines issued by the Home Ministry, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of lockdown till May 3, to contain the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the MGNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and face mask.
”Priority to be given under MGNREGA to irrigation and water conservation works. Other Central and state sector schemes in irrigation and water conservation sectors may be allowed to be implemented and suitably dovetailed with the MGNREGA works,” it said.
The new guidelines allowed movement of loading, unloading of goods and cargo, both inter and intra state.
”All goods traffic will be allowed to ply, including operation of railways, transportation of goods and parcel trains, operation of airports and related facilities for air transport for cargo movement, relief and evacuation,” it said.
It allowed operation of seaports and inland container deports for cargo transport, including authorised custom clearing and forwarding agents.
”Operation of Land Ports for cross land border transportation of essential goods, including petroleum products and LPG, food products, medical supplies will be allowed and movement of all trucks and other goods, carrier vehicles with two drivers and one helper, subject to the driver carrying a valid driving licence, are also permissible,” it added.
It also said that an empty truck or vehicle will be allowed to ply after the delivery of goods or for pick up for goods.
The new guidelines allowed shops for truck repairs and dhabas on highways, with stipulated minimum distance, as prescribed by the state/UT authorities, to function.
”Movement of staff and contractual labour for operation of railways, airports, air carriers, seaports, ships, vessels, land ports and ICDs is allowed on passes being issued by the local authority, on the basis of authorisation issued by the respective designated authority of the railways, airports, seaports, land ports and ICDs,” it added.
According to the Home Ministry, commercial and private establishments will be allowed to operate.
”Print and electronic media, including broadcasting, DTH and cable services, IT and IT enabled services with up to 50 per cent strength and data and call centers for government activities only” to be allowed.
The new guidelines exempted the government approved common service Centres (CSCs ) at gram panchayat level, e-commerce companies, vehicles used by e-commerce operations and courier services, to be allowed to ply with necessary permissions.
”Cold storage and warehousing services, including at ports, airports, railways stations, container depots, individual units and other links in the logistics chain” also can be functioned, it said.
The guidelines said private security services and facilities, management services for maintenance and upkeep of office and residential complexes, Hotels, homestays, lodges and motels, which are accommodating tourists and persons stranded due to the lockdown, medical and emergency staff, air and sea crew, will be allowed to function.
”Services provided by self-employed persons, electrician, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters” can function.
According to the guidelines, industries, industrial establishments, both government and private will be allowed to operate.
”The Industries operating in rural areas, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, manufacturing and other industrial establishments with access control in SEZ and Export Oriented Units (EoUs), industrial estates and industrial townships” will be allowed to work.
The guidelines, however, said that these establishments shall make arrangements for stay for workers within their premises as far as possible and adjacent buildings and for implementation of the standard operating protocol.
”The transportation of workers to work place shall be arranged by the employers in dedicated transport by ensuring social distancing,” it added.
The new guidelines also allowed like manufacturing units of essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw material and intermediates.
”Food processing industries in rural areas, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, production units, which require continuous process, and their supply chain,” also will be allowed.
Guidelines also exempted coal production, mines and mineral production, their transportation, supply of explosives and activities incidental to mining operations.
Jute industries with staggered shifts and social distancing, oil and gas exploration, refinery, brink kilns in rural areas, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities” are allowed.
The new guidelines also allowed operating construction activities, construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects, including MSMEs, in rural areas, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities and all kinds of projects in industrial areas.
The Centre also said the continuation of works in construction projects, within the limit of municipal corporations and municipalities are allowed, where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside.
