Maharashtra CM warns of curbs as Covid case positivity spikes in Mumbai

 Meanwhile, the Mumbai civic body has also asked the jumbo Covid centres to be fully staffed and be on a standby

With rising cases of Covid in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of the state task force on Thursday. Thackeray also said people should use face masks, vaccinate themselves and follow discipline if they don’t wish to experience Covid-19 restrictions again. Meanwhile, the Mumbai civic body has also asked the jumbo Covid centres to be fully staffed and be on a standby.

I S Chahal, commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp­oration, told Business Standard that all jumbo centres in the city had been asked to recall their staff and have full staff capacity in case there is a spike in cases. On Wednesday, the state crossed 1,000 daily cases — a three-month high. Mumbai’s daily positivity rate touched 8.4 per cent. On Thursday, Mumbai reported 704 cases, marginally down from the previous day. Cases of BA.4 and BA.5 have been reported in the state…Read More

Local train services hit on Mumbai's harbour line due to power issue

 Local train services on the harbour line in Mumbai were disrupted on Tuesday morning due to power issues

Local train services on the harbour line in Mumbai were disrupted on Tuesday morning due to power issues, according to a Central Railway official. Following the disruption, a number of passengers, mostly office-goers, complained that trains on the harbour line, which provides connectivity to Navi Mumbai and western suburbs with south Mumbai, were running late by at least 15-20 minutes during the morning rush hour.

Later, the locals trains, considered as the lifeline of Mumbai, on the route got overcrowded, some passengers said. The Central Railway’s chief public relations officer, Shivaji Sutar, said that services on the up line (towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai) on the harbour corridor were held up for about 15 minutes as the “overhead wire power was not holding from 9.13 am”.

High transportation cost pushes petrol in Maha's Parbhani to Rs 122.67

 With fuel prices being hiked multiple times over the last two weeks, the rate of petrol in Parbhani district in Maharashtra reached Rs 122.67 a litre on Tuesday

With fuel prices being hiked multiple times over the last two weeks, the rate of petrol in Parbhani district in Maharashtra reached Rs 122.67 a litre on Tuesday, one of the highest prices in the country, mainly due to the higher transportation cost. The steep rise is also attributed to the long distance of over 400 km between Parbhani city located in the Marathwada region and the fuel depot at Manmad in the Nashik district in north Maharashtra, a petrol dealer said.

“The cost of fuel in Parbhani (district) is high due to the long distance between the Panewadi fuel depot at Manmad in Nashik district and Parbhani city,” Parbhani Petrol Dealers Association president Amol Bhedsurkar told PTI on Tuesday.He said the round trip distance for a tanker transporting fuel to Parbhani from the Panewadi-based depot in Manmad is nearly 730 km.

“The fuel transportation cost for Parbhani is nearly Rs 2.07 per litre. The overall cost runs into Rs 24,000 for operating a fuel tanker on the Manmad-Parbhani-Manmad trip,” he said. Bhedsurkar further said the fuel depot at Panewadi is the nearest to Parbhani compared to other such depots in Maharashtra…Read More

Can signboards in Marathi give jobs to Maharashtra youths? asks MP Jaleel

 The Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad said emotive issues are raised only when elections are just around the corner

AIMIM Maharashtra unit president and MP Imtiaz Jaleel on Thursday appeared critical of the state government decision to make it mandatory for shops with fewer than 10 employees to use Marathi signboards, and wondered if the move will create more jobs for Marathi youths.

The Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad said emotive issues are raised only when elections are just around the corner and termed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government’s decision as a gimmick. Jaleel tweeted, “when elections come closer then you remember Marathi boards, border dispute with Karnataka, Marathi pride. People are not fool and they understand this gimmick.

Will Marathi boards will give jobs to Marathi youth, is a million dollar question. ” The decision to make it mandatory for shops with fewer than 10 employees to use Marathi signboards was taken by the state cabinet at its meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act will be amended for this, Industries Minister Subhash Desai had told reporters after the meeting. The objective was to close a legal loophole which owners of small shops exploit to avoid putting up Marathi signboards (already required for bigger establishments), the minister said.

Maharashtra govt announces fresh curbs in wake of rising Covid cases

In view of rising Covid-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced fresh curbs on attendance at weddings, social, political, religious events and funerals.

In view of rising COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced fresh curbs on attendance at weddings, social, political, religious events and funerals. “In case of marriages or any other social, political or religious event, the maximum number of attendees shall be restricted to 50 persons. The maximum number of attendees is restricted to 20 in funerals,” the order read.

Further, the order states, “In any other part of the state which are tourist spots that attract a large crowd of people such as beaches, open grounds, etc, the competent authority may as deemed appropriate, impose section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.” Meanwhile, Mumbai Police on Thursday has already imposed Section 144 in the city starting from December 30 till January 7.

As per the new COVID-19 restrictions, prohibition has been placed on New Year’s celebrations, parties in any closed or open space including restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, resorts, and clubs from December 30 to January 7.”The order shall come into the force, in the areas under the control of Commissioner of Police, Greater Mumbai from 00:00 Hrs of 30 December 2021 and will remain in force till 24 Hrs of 7 January 2022, unless withdrawn earlier,” the order reads.

Man held in Bengaluru for threatening Maha minister Aaditya Thackeray

 Mumbai Police have arrested a man from Bengaluru for allegedly threatening Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray, an official said on Thursday.

Mumbai Police have arrested a man from Bengaluru for allegedly threatening Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray, an official said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Jaisingh Rajput, was apprehended by the Mumbai crime branch’s cyber team on Saturday and brought to Mumbai, he said.

Aaditya Thackeray is the son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Rajput allegedly called the minister on December 8, but the latter did not receive the call. The accused then sent threatening text messages to the minister, the official said.

During the investigation, the cyber police traced the caller’s mobile number to Bengaluru in neighbouring Karnataka. Accordingly, a team was sent to Bengaluru where the accused person was arrested, the official said. He was later produced before a court which sent him in police custody. The accused was a fan of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the official said.

Covid-19: Hospitals to get 80% oxygen cylinders, says Uddhav Thackeray

Uddhav Thackeray has said the state government has decided to provide 80% oxygen cylinders to hospitals and 20% to industries

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that in view of the WHO’s warning that COVID-19 cases will be on the rise in the coming days, the state government has decided to provide 80 per cent oxygen cylinders to hospitals and 20 per cent to industries.

He also said that although there were only a handful of testing laboratories in the state when the outbreak began, their number has now grown to 550. Uddhav Thackeray said this while inaugurating a testing laboratory and six COVID Care centres in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

“Considering the warning given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the number of COVID-19 cases will rise in the coming days, the state government has decided to provide 80 per cent oxygen cylinders to hospitals and the remaining 20 per cent to industries,” an official release quoted him as saying.

“This distribution of oxygen cylinders will be done through a centralised system,” he said. The state government is creating a large number of health facilities to tackle the pandemic, he said.”But despite the excellent quality of medical facilities, people are skeptical about them. Therefore, the agencies should make efforts to increase the credibility in the minds of people towards the facilities,” Thackeray said….

Karni Sena supports Kangana Ranaut, seeks action against Sanjay Raut

The Karni Sena has come out in support of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and has sought action against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

The Karni Sena has come out in support of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and has sought action against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut. The Karni Sena members staged a protest in Gorakhpur on Tuesday against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for his disparaging remarks against the actor.

The Sena members also burnt the effigy of Sanjay Raut at Shastri Chowk in Gorakhpur and demanded his apology. They said the kind of language the Shiv Sena leader has used for Kangana is an insult to all women. Shri Rajput Karni Sena, popularly referred to as Karni Sena, is considered to be a fringe outfit and is based in Rajasthan.

Karni Sena district president Devendra Singh said, “Rajputs have always supported women whenever they have been subjected to humiliation and insult. Sanjay Raut has used unparliamentary language for Kangana Ranaut which is very objectionable. We demand that the Maharashtra government and the Shiv Sena take stern action against Sanjay Raut otherwise Karni Sena will come on roads to fight for the respect of women.”

Sanjay Raut is the executive editor of Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, the party’s newspaper and, on Tuesday, he was appointed party’s chief spokesperson. The Karni Sena has also declared that it will take the responsibility for Kangana Ranaut’s security in Mumbai. The actor is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on Wednesday. The Karni Sena said its members will protect Kangana Ranaut and escort her from the airport to her home.

Raigad building collapse: 60 rescued, 30 feared to be trapped under debris

At least 60 people were rescued and at least 30 are still feared to be trapped under the debris after a five-storey building in Mahad of Maharashtra’s Raigad district collapsed

Maharashtra Minister Aditi Tatkare on Tuesday said that at least 60 people were rescued and at least 30 are still feared to be trapped under the debris after a five-storey building in Mahad of Maharashtra’s Raigad district collapsed. Maharashtra Ministers Aditi Tatkare and Eknath Shinde visited the spot where a building collapsed in Kajalpura area of Raigad district last evening.

“Around 60 people rescued, 25-30 are still feared to be trapped under the debris. Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are here. One death reported so far. Injured are being treated and some are discharged,” Tatkare told ANI. “Those with serious injuries were taken to Mumbai for advanced treatment. The probe has begun. We wish that Special Investigation Team should be constituted,” she added.

Eknath Shinde said,” It is an unfortunate incident. One person died and seven have been injured. The rescue operation is going on. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that the government will help the affected families.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed the Director-General (DG), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide all possible assistance for rescue operations at the incident site.IPS, DG NDRF, Satya Narayan Pradhan took to Twitter and informed that three NDRF teams are rushing from Pune for rescue operation with all special equipment. NDRF Maharashtra Commandant monitoring situation real-time.

Hope force: India’s army of 600,000 virus-hunting women goes on strike

ASHA workers act as a stopgap in the country’s porous health care system, delivering assistance from maternal health to immunization in its vast rural hinterland

They helped eradicate polio in India and reduced the number of women dying during child birth. But the country’s catastrophic coronavirus outbreak, now the third-largest in the world, has pushed its all-female army of contact-tracing health workers to breaking point.

After months of harassment, underpayment and lack of protection from infection, about 600,000 of the country’s one million Accredited Social Health Activists — or ASHAs, which also means hope in Hindi — are going on strike for two days starting Aug. 7 to draw attention to their plight. Union leaders expect more may join as the word spreads.

They want better and timely pay, and a legal status that ensures minimum wages, to sustain their work of helping Indian officials track down high-risk contacts of Covid-19 patients across slums and hard-to-reach rural parts of the country. Losing the ASHAs would not only threaten India’s virus-containment effort, but also impact the other essential health services they provide to rural households that range from child vaccinations to tuberculosis control.

“For working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. we get only 2,000 rupees ($27) a month and no masks or sanitizer,” said Sulochana Rajendra Sabde, a 45-year-old ASHA in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, a state along India’s west cost with Mumbai as its capital…“For working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. we get only 2,000 rupees ($27) a month and no masks or sanitizer,” said Sulochana Rajendra Sabde, a 45-year-old ASHA in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, a state along India’s west cost with Mumbai as its capital.

BMC curtails bus services in Mumbai, shuts offices due to heavy rainfall

Bus and train services have been halted and altered in Mumbai owing to incessant rain on Tuesday, BMC informed, while also appealing to offices in the city to remain shut

Bus and train services have been halted and altered in Mumbai owing to incessant rain on Tuesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed, while also appealing to offices in the city to remain shut. “The Western and harbour line between Kurla and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) have been completely stopped; the central line is running at a slow speed. The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) bus services have been diverted in at least eight routes in various parts of Mumbai City and the suburbs ” the BMC said.

The BMC also appealed to all offices and other establishments to remain shut on Tuesday, except those of Emergency services, due to the advisory that had been issued by the IMD in light of the prediction of more downpours later in the day. With over 10 hours of rainfall throughout the night, people in several parts of Mumbai on Tuesday woke up to severely waterlogged streets. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a red alert for today and tomorrow for extremely heavy rain in Mumbai.

With a high tide expected at 12:47 pm, the BMC has issued an alert to all concerned departments and also to citizens to not go near any beaches or low lying areas. Tidal waves of around 4.51 meters have been predicted due to the heavy rains. According to the BMC, Mumbai city received 140.5 mm rain from 8 am on August 3 to 3 am on August 4. The Eastern and Western Suburbs recorded 84.77 mm and 79.27 mm of rainfall respectively...Read More On Mumbai Rains

Over 500 flights take off, but states create plane confusion at airports

Maharashtra clears air, says short-term visitors exempt from isolation

It was a day of delight and despair for passengers as domestic airlines resumed flights on Monday after two months of suspension. While more than 39,000 people flew on Day One, several hundred remained stranded due to last minute cancellations.

Even as airlines were supposed to operate 33 per cent of the approved summer schedule, they were forced to rework their itineraries late Sunday evening following many rounds of discussions between the Centre and states. The original schedule turned upside down as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, allowed operations with only limited number of flights…

ALSO READ: Day 1 of flights resumption: Airlines walk an extra mile to ensure safe ops

Industry sources estimated the average passenger load on Monday at around 55 per cent, with IndiGo operating half the total flights. For some flights, fewer than 10 passengers turned up. Alliance Air’s Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Dehradun flights flew with two and three passengers only, executives confirmed.

While flights from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Northeast states saw 100-plus passengers each, Bengaluru and Mumbai-bound flights from the Capital had lower number of passengers. Short-duration visitors, including business travellers, will not be required to undergo isolation in Maharashtra, the state said in its standard operating procedures for domestic air travel on Monday…Read More

Only 6.39% Covid-19 cases needed hospital support; recovery rate now at 40%

Total count at 1,06,750, of which 61,149 are active. Some 6.9% of those under treatment are critical; death toll at 3,303

India saw a record jump of more than 5,600 Covid-19 cases in a single day, taking the total confirmed cases to 106,750, even as nearly 40 per cent of the total patients were reported as ‘cured’ by the health ministry on Wednesday. There are 61,149 active cases in India, of which 6.9 per cent require oxygen, ventilator support or intensive care unit treatment, while 42,297 have been cured. India had witnessed 3,303 Covid-19 deaths till Wednesday morning.

The Indian Council of Medical Research is also reviewing the use of antimalarial drug HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) as a prophylactic by health workers and those in close contact with affected cases.On whether the use of the drug would be dropped after concerns were raised around its effectiveness and safety, Raman R Gangakhedkar, head, epidemiology and communicable diseases division, ICMR, said, “We are gathering evidence, based on which a decision will be taken.”

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 2,000-plus cases for 4th straight day

The total number of tests conducted in the country has crossed 2.5 million, with more than 100,000 tests being conducted in the last two days, revealed ICMR data. Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry, said India has fared better, compared to the top 10 countries with maximum Covid-19 cases in terms of total incidence and fatalities…Read More

Coronavirus update: Key developments in the last 24 hours and takeaways

Yesterday, in a video conference with chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated the nationwide lockdown could be extended beyond May 17, but with eased restrictions for businesses

The total number of Covid-19 cases in India has reached 70,765, with more than 3,600 cases being reported in 24 hours. Here are some key takeaways: Delhi has added 319 new cases in a day. It has consistently added more than 200 cases for 11 days. Total cases added on these days comes to 3718, which is 51.5% of all case tally of 7233.

Also Read: Centre releases Rs 6,195 crore to 14 states to fight coronavirus crisis

Gujarat has added 347 new cases in 24 hours. It has consistently added more than 300 cases on each of the past 13 days. Total cases added during this period, 4767, is 56% of its case tally of 8541. Maharashtra has added 1230 new cases in 24 hours. The state has consistently added more than 1,000 cases on seven of the past eight days. Its addition of cases in the past eight days is 10427, which is 44.5% of its case tally of 23401…

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Centre may extend lockdown beyond May 17 with easier norms for business

PM assures resumption of more economic activities; zone identification may be left to states

After a 6-hour video conference with chief ministers (CMs), Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised resumption of more economic activities in the weeks to come and asked states to take the lead in deciding the contours of the next phase of lockdown and share their strategies with him by May 15. “Slowly but surely, economic activities have begun to pick up in several parts of the country. In coming days, this process will gather steam. We must realise that the fight against Covid-19 has to be more focused now,” Modi said, suggesting a more granular planning beyond May 17, when the current phase of lockdown ends.

ALSO READ: Govt borrowing may spike yields, dent gilt fund returns due to MTM impact

“We now have reasonably clear indication as to the geographical spread of the pandemic in India, including the worst-affected areas. Over the past few weeks, officials have understood operating procedures in a time such as this, right up to the district level,” he said, indicating a more decentralised approach to fighting the virus. “I want states to make a blueprint on how to deal with various nuances during and after the gradual easing of the lockdown.”The Centre indicated that an economic package for the states was on the anvil, and the PM expressed the need to strengthen health infrastructure with onset of monsoon round the corner.

Covid-19 lockdown: BMC orders one road to have only one electronic shop

Till now, Maharashtra has continued to have maximum cases in the country at 15,525

Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered the Assistant Commissioners that one road will have only one standalone electronic and hardware shop amid lockdown. “I hereby issue orders to the Assistant Commissioners of wards that stand-alone electronic and hardware shop not more than one on each road be given permission to remain open,” Praveen Pardeshi, Commissioner of BMC.

Till now, Maharashtra has continued to have maximum cases in the country at 15,525. This includes 2819 cured/discharged and 617 deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country has reached 49,391, including 14,183 recovered/migrated and 1,694 deaths, as per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases rise to 52,987; Maharashtra tally at 16,758

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Signal from PM Modi to CMs: Covid-19 lockdown may continue beyond May 3

Green zones may see more relaxations; states divided on how to end curbs

The nationwide lockdown is all set to be extended beyond May 3, at least until the middle of the month in the red zones of the country, as many states told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video-conference meeting on Monday that it’s not the time yet to lift the curbs.This means more activities may be allowed to resume in green zones of the country. Most Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states support extending the lockdown, but will wait and abide by the Centre’s fresh guidelines. Telangana has already extended the lockdown until May 7, and will take a decision on further extension on May 5.

ALSO READ: CRISIL pegs India’s FY21 economic growth rate at 1.8% from 3.5%

Odisha, Meghalaya and some others support extending it by a month. Congress-led governments want the lockdown to be lifted in areas other than hotpots or containment zones.Delhi will take a call by April 30.Maharashtra will also decide by the end of the month, but will not lift the lockdown in urban centres like Mumbai and Pune, which are in red zones, while allowing economic activity in green zones. Mindful of the economic challenges, the government is preparing a detailed exit strategy that would give states more space in deciding their respective plans, sources said after the three-hour meeting.

ALSO READ: Govt likely to pledge Rs 3-trn in loans to MSMEs amid Covid-19 outbreak

All CMs, except Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, who sent his chief secretary, participated in the meeting. Nine CMs spoke while the rest sent in their suggestions. The PM indicated that Covid-19 is here for a long haul and that people need to learn to live with it. He said masks and face covers would become part of our lives in the days ahead and reiterated the mantra of ‘do gaz doori’ or social distancing…

Covid-19: Full refund if you booked air tickets from March 25 to April 14

Many have been complaining on social media as airlines have decided not to give refunds in cash for cancelled flights and are instead issuing credit for future travel.

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday said the passengers who had booked flight tickets during the first phase of lockdown for travel up to May 3 must get a full refund from the airlines without any cancellation charges if they ask for it. Many have been complaining on social media as airlines have decided not to give refunds in cash for cancelled flights and are instead issuing credit for future travel.

Zoom not a safe platform, says MHA advisory

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in an advisory that video conferencing software Zoom is not a safe platform, and is not for use by government offices or officials. Earlier, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan had apologised for the company failing to fully implement its usual geo-fencing best practices, while assuring customers that there was no impact on Zoom for Government Cloud, a separate cloud service for government customers.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus outbreak: Why cities may not remain the same after lockdown

Maha tally crosses 3K-mark, 2,073 of these in Mumbai

As many as 286 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Maharashtra, taking the tally beyond the 3,200-mark on Thursday, while the fatality count inched towards the 200-level with seven more deaths, most of them senior citizens, said a state health official. With the detection of fresh cases in the last 24 hours, Maharashtra has so far reported 3,202 coronavirus cases, the highest for a state in the country, while the death toll is now 194, he added…Read Full Story

Govt identifies 170 districts in India as hotspots, 207 potential hotspots

The officials said that health facilities in a buffer zone outside the containment zones will be oriented and people facing SARI and influenza-like symptoms will be tested there

The Union Health Ministry has identified 170 districts as Covid-19 hotspots and 207 districts as potential hotspots, officials said on Wednesday, reiterating that there has been no community transmission of the disease in the country so far.

Addressing the daily briefing on coronavirus situation in the country, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal said that states have been asked to classify districts which have reported a higher number of cases as hotspots, the districts where cases have been reported as non-hotspots, and green zones where no cases have been reported. “Hotspots are those districts which are reporting more number of cases or where the rate of growth of Covid-19 cases is high,” Agarwal said, adding a detailed direction has been issued to states stating consolidated efforts are required to utilise this period of lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

ALSO READ: India GDP projections by World Bank, IMF too optimistic: Ex-CEA Subramanian

“Cabinet secretary held a video conference today with all chief secretaries, DGPs, health secretaries, collectors, SPs, municipal commissioners and CMOs where hotspots were discussed and orientation on field level implementation of containment strategy was given.”

“They were told about large outbreak containment strategies, cluster containment strategies. Delineation of buffer and containment zone, parameter mapping, defining of entry and exit points were also discussed in detail,” he said. The joint secretary said movement of people will not be allowed in containment zones except for those related with essential services and special teams will search for new cases and samples will be collected and tested as per sampling criteria.

With no income and food, Dharavi gasps for air as Covid-19 cases increase

Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions in Asia’s largest slum pose big challenges to containment

The roads are empty, the shops closed, and some areas are cordoned off. Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, is locked down like the rest of Mumbai. However, the rising number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in thisteeming shantytown, where people live in huts and decrepit tenements, has put it front and centre of India’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

So far, Dharavi has reported five cases, including one death — that of a 56-year-old man. But there is fear that the numbers could inch up in a place where people grapple daily with overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. To add to their misery, the lockdown has left residents with no income and little food. Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra’s health minister, told Business Standard that Dharavi was a grave concern for the government, given the density of its population and the poverty of its residents. “We are ensuring there is strict adherence to the rules of the lockdown in Dharavi. We do not allow crowds to collect, but it isn’t easy. There’s a space constraint, people are poor and without work right now. There are challenges,” he says.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) estimate that the average monthly income of a household in Dharavi is below Rs 5,000. Around 5-10 per cent of its population of 1.5 million, spread over 613 hectares and seven Mumbai wards, have headed back to their home towns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar after the lockdown. Sajeevan Jaiswal, a cloth merchant, is dipping into his meagre savings to somehow get by till the lockdown ends. His shop, near the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation office in Dharavi, is shut. Jaiswal fears for the safety of his family — his wife, two sons, and a daughter-in-law — who live above his shop in a small, 200 square feet space. ..Read More