Why in news?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 19th April 2020 clarified that supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during the lockdown.
Goa, on 19th April 2020, became the first zero COVID-19 State in the country with the last seven positive cases also turning negative.
What did the ministry say?
- The Ministry issued guidelines for the movement of migrant labourers living in relief camps to their workplace, within the boundaries of a State, in areas where the lockdown will be relaxed from April 20.
- On April 15, the MHA had revised its guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to allow the States to decide on the additional public activities to be allowed from April 20 in non-hotspot zones. It said the additional facilities would have to be based on strict compliance with the existing guidelines on lockdown measures.
What about the Migrant Labourers?
- The Ministry asserted that there will be no inter-State movement of labourers.
- The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for stranded migrant labourers issued on 19th April said that due to the spread of COVlD-19 virus, workers employed in industry, agriculture, construction and other sectors have moved from their respective places of work and are housed in relief camps run by State governments.
- Since additional new activities, outside the containment zones have been permitted in the consolidated revised guidelines with effect from April 20, these workers could be engaged in industrial, manufacturing, construction, farming and MGNREGA works.
