news details |
|
|
| On way towards exit plan | | |
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by allowing neighborhood and stand-alone shops to open is an indication that the Centre is working out an exit plan from lockdown.
The MHA orders have come just two days before Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers of different States and administrators of the Union Territories to get their feedback on the future course of action.
Media reports suggest that the GoI may relax the restrictions in the areas where no cases have been reported and may allow some businesses to operate in the areas, which have turned from containment areas into non-containment areas.
It could be just a beginning of the long drawn exit plan. The biggest challenge for the government would be to allow the movement of people from one place to another. For time being it looks impossible.
The COVID-19 lockdown has brought all the activities to a grinding halt. On May 3, India will complete 42-days in a lockdown mode. And it appears that coming out of it won’t be that easy as everything won’t be thrown open in one go.
Soon after the MHA issued the guidelines to amend some lockdown restrictions, J&K administration in accordance to the directions issued by the Union Home Ministry framed a policy to allow some shops to open in rural and urban areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Compared to Kashmir situation is much better in Jammu. Number of cases in Jammu are far less than the Valley. There are possibilities about restrictions being eased in Jammu region. But in Kashmir situation continues to be grim. The administration in Kashmir is grappling with number of issues. Many people believe that had the travellers not hid their travel histories, number of positive patients in Kashmir would not have been so high. On the other hand, people in Jammu region came forward voluntarily to disclose their travel histories. This to a great extent has helped Jammu from falling into the COVID-19 trap.
People in Jammu region have kept their fingers crossed and are hoping that the COVID-19 curve would flatten in coming days and they will be able to resume their normal lives once again. For time being neighborhood and stand-alone shops have been allowed to open but the people will have to maintain social distancing to ensure that COVID-19 doesn’t return. It’s still a long drawn battle which needs to be fought. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
