Kerala govt makes compulsory for public to follow Covid-19 norms till 2021

The norms have been issued under the 'Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Additional Regulations, 2020'

The Kerala government has made it mandatory for the public to adhere to Covid-19 safety guidelines such as wearing of masks for the next one year, as part of its measures to tackle the spread of the virus in the state.Through an amendment brought to the Epidemic Diseases Act, the state government said the regulations for the public will remain in effect till July 2021.

The norms have been issued under the 'Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Additional Regulations, 2020.'In the wake of an increase in Covid-19 cases in the state, the government has taken a decision to strengthen precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus, the government said in an explanatory note with the Gazette notification. According to the regulations, all persons shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or face cover in all public places, workplaces, any place where the public have access, all kinds of vehicles and during transport.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 697,836; scientists say corona is airborne

"All persons shall maintain a social distance of six feet between person to person in all public places and functions… In all wedding ceremonies and functions thereafter the maximum number of participants at a time shall not exceed50 people," it read. Not more than 20 people would be allowed at shops and funerals.

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.

Kerala reconstruction, rehabilitation: State seeks FRBM limit relaxation

Rehabilitation process of the floods, that claimed close to 350 lives, has gathered momentum

Kerala Flood : In order to open more fundraising channels for reconstruction and rehabilitation of its flood-hit areas, Kerala is set to approach the central government to increase its market borrowings limit from 3 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to 4.5 per cent. The state is already in talks with the World Bank to raise Rs 100-150 billion. This comes at a time when the Centre has declined aid from foreign countries like the United Arab Emirates, which, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, promised “Rs 7 billion”.

If the Centre agrees to relax the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) rules for Kerala, its ability to raise money from the markets may increase by around Rs 115 billion. “At present, our FRBM limit is 3 per cent of GSDP, which we are planning to ask the Centre to increase to 4.5 per cent,” said a state official close to the development. However, senior Union finance ministry officials say there are strict parameters for relaxing the FRBM limit, and hence the borrowing and expenditure limits, for a state. 

There are no precedents for relaxing the FRBM limits for any state due to natural disasters.

“The FRBM limits are strictly defined and hence giving a one-time relaxation to Kerala because of the floods is unlikely,” said an official. “The state is free to borrow within its limits, and the central government will release more funds to help rebuild the state after the floods,” the person said.

As far as the central government is concerned, a well laid-down process is followed before deciding the aid to be given to a disaster-affected state, officials say. In case of drought, it is the Union agriculture ministry which takes the lead, and in case of other disasters, it is the Union home ministry.

Read Full Source : BS

Real ‘Airlift’ hero Matthunny Mathews dies in Kuwait

During the 1990 Gulf war Mathews had helped thousands of Indians to flee the gulf nation

Prominent Indian businessman in Kuwait, Matthunny Mathews, who was instrumental in the safe evacuation of stranded Indians during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, passed away in Kuwait.

81-year-old Mathews, who hailed from Kumbanad in Pathnamthitta district, was ailing for some time and passed away yesterday, media reports here said.

Expressing his condolence, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday that during the 1990 Gulf war Mathews had helped thousands of Indians to flee the gulf nation and his services would always be remembered.

By not taking efforts to save his own life and property, Mathews had done yeoman service to bring his countrymen, who had lost everything in the war, safely back, Vijayan said.

“He provided food and drinking water to the stranded Indians and we remember it with gratitude,” Vijayan said.

The V P Singh government had in 1990 carried out the biggest evacuationduring the gulf war when over 1.50 lakh standard Indians had been safely brought back by flight. At that time Mathews had functioned as the Central Government’s “unofficial representative” in Kuwait to coordinate the evacuation process, the Chief Minister said. Popularly known as ‘Toyota Sunny’, Mathunny Mathews was said to be the inspiration of Akshay Kumar’s character in Bollywood film ‘Airlift’.

“Extremely sad news, was an honour to portray him on screen. Thoughts and prayers with his family”, Akshay Kumar said in a tweet.

Mathews, left for Kuwait 1956 at the age of 20 in search of job. He joined as a typist in the Toyota company and rose to become its Managing Director when he retired in 1989. (readmore…)