Lockdown extended till May 3: Here are the 7 things PM wants you to follow

The prime minister said detailed guidelines on implementation of the new lockdown will be announced on Wednesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3. He said implementation of the lockdown will be strictly ensured in coming days to ensure that the virus does not spread to new areas. The prime minister said detailed guidelines on implementation of the new lockdown will be announced on Wednesday.

He asked the citizens to follow seven things that will help in curbing the coronavirus spread. Here is the list:

1. Take care of the elderly

I appeal to you that you care more especially for the aged in your family. They should be protected from coronavirus infection

2. Maintain hygiene

Keep your faces covered, wear masks, etc

3. Follow advice

To strengthen your immunity, follow the advice of the AYUSH ministry

4. Download Arogya Setu app

To track the spread of the virus, download the Arogya Setu app and inspires other also

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5. Take care of the poor

As much as possible, take care of the economically weaker sections

6. Employer-employee relation

To be sensitive as an employer towards your employees

7. Respect corona warriors

Have a great regard for the warriors of this country who are at the frontlines of our fight against the virus..

Covid-19 lockdown: 12-hr workday in Rajasthan factories, Punjab may follow

State invokes powers under Factories Act to extend maximum hours to 12 from eight earlier; Other states may follow as move is aimed to ensure production isn’t impacted due to reduced workforce

As industries prepare to restart operations in a staggered manner in the second phase of the lockdown, the Rajasthan government has extended working hours at factories from a maximum of 8 hours to 12 hours a day to ensure production doesn’t take a hit with a limited workforce. The template is set to be followed by other states such as Punjab. Rajasthan has used special powers under the Factories Act of 1948, which could be invoked during a public emergency, to make these changes for the next three months. This will apply to all the manufacturing activities permitted for operations.

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“To achieve the dual objective of restoring full supply of essential goods and ensure a minimum presence of people in manufacturing and distribution facilities, it is allowed that the usual eight hours of working per day according to the Factories Act, 1948, be exempted for next three months to allow maximum of 12 hours working per day,” Niraj Kumar Pawan, Rajasthan labour, employment and skill secretary, said in an April 11 order.

This will be applicable for all the exempted categories of industries that will be allowed to work through notifications issued by the central and the state governments.According to the notification, the additional four hours of work will be counted as ‘overtime’ for which, Pawan told Business Standard, the worker will be paid double the wages in normal working hours…Read More

Covid-19: PM Narendra Modi extends world’s biggest lockdown till May 3

The fight against coronavirus was still on, said PM Narendra Modi in his address to the nation and warned that the coming week would see more strict action to contain the damage

The nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic would remain in force till May 3, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, as the number of people suffering from the disease in India touched 10,453 and deaths topped 358, according to Worldometer.

“In view of all suggestions, it has been decided that the nationwide lockdown would be extended until May 3. This means we all will have to stay indoors, in a lockdown, until May 3 — with the same discipline and resolve that we have shown so far,” said PM Modi in a televised address to the nation at 10 am. In his address, the PM said that we would have to keep an eye on newer hotspots and take stringent measures to curb the spread.

“In the next few days, you will see more strict actions to contain the damage. Till April 20, there will be a careful survey and evaluation to see how each region has fared in stopping the spread. Those areas that show remarkable improvement in terms of not allowing new hotspots to be created will see some relaxation in lockdown rules after April 20. However, if we see any carelessness or dangers afterwards, these relaxations would be revoked. A detailed list of guidelines on this will be issued by the government tomorrow,” the PM warned.

“These steps are being proposed in view of the economic needs of the poor, who rely on the wages they earn on a daily basis. These poor and daily-wage workers indeed are my family. They and the mitigation of their problems are my priority. Their welfare has been kept in mind while drafting the new guidelines. Rabi harvest is on in the country these days; the welfare of farmers will be kept in mind. Global experience tells us that when the number of cases reaches 10,000 in a country, 1,500-1,600 hospital beds are required. But in India we have made available as many as 100,000 beds,” he added…Read More