Coronavirus: Central government grants more exemptions during Lockdown
New Delhi, March 29, 2020: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to Chief Secretary of every State and Union Territory, informing about more exemptions granted during the nationwide lockdown due to Coronavirus outbreak.
The lockdown order was first issued on March 24, 2020, under Section 10(2)(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 alongwith lockdown measures to be taken by Ministries and Departments of Government of India, and State Governments/Union Territories, to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. This was followed by two Addendum Orders dated 25.03.2020 and 27.03.2020 to the guidelines on lockdown measure.
The consolidated guidelines, by incorporating changes made through the two Addendums, on the lockdown measure to the Order dated 24.03.2020 is available at https://mha.gov.in/sites/
He further stated, “I would further like to clarify that:
a. With the issue of 1st addendum, transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential, have been allowed.
b. ‘Pension’ under exemptions to dame 2(g), include pension and provident fund services provided by Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
c. Services of Indian Red Cross Society are also included under clause 3. d. Groceries include hygiene products such as hand washes, soaps, disinfectants, body wash, shampoos, surface cleaners, detergents and tissue papers, toothpaste / oral care, sanitary pads and diapers, battery cells, chargers etc.
e. Entire supply chain of milk collection and distribution, including its packaging material is allowed.
f. News paper delivery supply chain is also allowed under print media.
“I would also like to inform that the Central Government has also allowed use of SDRF for homeless people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures, and sheltered in the relief camps and other places for providing them food etc., for the containment of spread of Covid-19 virus in the country”, the letter stated.
Addition in exemption to Clause 1:
• Term treasury includes, Pay & Accounts Offices. Financial Advisers and field offices of the Controller General of Accounts, with bare minimum staff.
• Customs clearance at ports/airports/land border: GSTN, and MCA 21 Registry. with bare minimum staff.
• Reserve Bank of India and RBI regulated financial markets and entities like NPCI. CCIL. payment system operators and standalone primary dealers, with bare minimum staff
Under sub clause (b) to clause 2. term treasury include, field offices of the Accountant General. with bare minimum staff
Addition of sub clause (e), (f) & (g) in exceptions to clause 2: e. Resident Commissioner of States, in New Delhi with bare minimum staff, for coordinating Covid-19 related activities and internal kitchens operations. f. Forest offices Staff/ workers required to operate and maintain zoo, nurseries, wildlife. fire fighting in forests, watering plantations. patrolling and their necessary transport movement.
Social Welfare Department, with bare minimum staff, for operations of Homes for children/ disables/ senior citizens/ destitute/ women/ widows, Observation homes: pensions
Clause 3 includes veterinary hospitals, pharmacies (including Jan Aushadhi Kendra) and Pharmaceutical research labs.
Sub-clause (b) to Clause 4 includes IT Vendor for banking operations; Banking Correspondent and ATM operation and cash management agencies.
Sub-clause (a) to Clause 4 includes shops for seeds and pesticides.
Addition of sub clause (h) to Clause 4:
Data and call Centre for Government activities only.
Sub-clause (a) to clause 5 to read as: a. Manufacturing units of essential goods. including drugs. pharmaceutical. medical devices, their raw material & intermediates.
Addition of sub clause (c) & (d) to Clause 5: c. coal and mineral production. transportation. supply of explosives and activities incidental to mining operations. d. Manufacturing units of packaging material for food items, drugs, pharmaceutical and medical devices.
Addition of sub clause (c) & (d) to Clause Sub clause 6:
a. Operations of Railways, Airports and Seaports for cargo movement, relief and evacuation and their related operational organisations.
b. Inter-state movement of goods/cargo for inland and exports.
Addition of sub clause (c) in exceptions to clause 6: c. Cross land border movement of essential goods including petroleum products and LPG. food products, medical supplies.
