Lockdown: A lot will change after April 20, see full list of discounts

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Lockdown has been imposed in the country till May 3 to end the Corona crisis.  However, the central government has said that after reviewing the situation, relief can be given in select areas from April 20.  Now the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a guideline to allow some more services during the lockdown.  These include construction activities in rural areas, water supply, cleaning works and online shopping operations of non-banking financial institutions and co-operative credit societies.

The Union Home Secretary has asked the people dependent on forests in the scheduled tribes and forest areas in the states to purchase minor forest and non timber forest products and make other arrangements.  These activities will be approved during the lockdown lasting till May 3.  The Ministry of Home Affairs has also given permission to start construction activities in rural areas, water supply and sanitation, laying of power transmission lines and telecom optical fiber and cabling works.

Various non-banking financial institutions and micro finance institutions including housing finance companies will also be allowed to work with minimum staff.  Cultivation, processing, packaging, sale and marketing of bamboo, coconut, cocoa and spices will also be allowed during lockdown.  Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the Department of Posts has worked with full dedication towards sending the post within the state and from one state to another.

Earlier, a list of services being opened by the Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was released from April 20.  According to that list, these services will also be open from April 20:

 All health services (including Ayush)

 All agricultural and horticultural activities

Operation of fishing (marine / inland) aquaculture industry

Plantation activities such as tea, coffee and rubber plantations will enable maximum 50 percent workers to work

 Animal husbandry activities

 financial sector

 Social sector

Functions of MNREGA - Social Distancing and Masks to be compulsory

 Public facilities

Permission to load and unload cargo / cargo (inter and intra) state

 Online learning

 Supply of essentials

Business and private foundations will be permitted to work

Industry / Industrial Establishment (Both Government and Private)

 Construction activities

Private vehicles for emergency services including medical and veterinary services

Permission to all personnel traveling for work in exempt categories for purchase of essential commodities and as per the instructions of the local authority of the State / Union Territory

The offices of the Government of India and the States and Union Territories will remain open