The Home Ministry today issued guidelines for the second version of lockdown, that commenced from 15th April and will end on May 3rd, in India. Under the new set of rules, certain sectors will be allowed to function from 20th April, in order to ease public hardship in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

While, the air, rail and inter-state travel remains suspended, the government has allowed agricultural activities, health services and industries operating in rural areas to function.

Here are key points that you should remember:

What will be open:

  • Farming operations, agencies involved in procurement of agricultural produce, ‘mandis’ operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) will be allowed in areas that are not COVID-19 hotspots after April 20.
  • Shops of farm machinery, its spare parts, supply chain, repairs, ‘Custom Hiring Centres’ related to machinery will also remain open.
  • The supply chain of milk, milk products, poultry and live-stock farming and tea, coffee and rubber plantations will resume.
  • Highway ‘dhabas’, truck repairing shops and call centres for government activities wil also remain operational from Monday.
  • Grocery stores, fruit, vegetables shops or carts, milk booths, poultry and meat and fish shops will remain open during lockdown.
  • Self-employed electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters will be allowed after April 20.

What still remains shut:

  • MHA has barred all kinds of public transport and prohibiting opening of public places, including shopping malls, gyms, schools and colleges, till May 3.
  • Inter-state, inter-district movement of people, metro, bus services continue will be prohibited
  • Educational institutions, coaching centres, domestic, international air travel, train services will also remain suspended.
  • Public places like cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, bars will also be shut till May 3.
  • All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall be closed for public till May 3.