Lockdown extended till May 31 with relaxations

Barber shops, salons and spas can function, and e-commerce firms can deliver nonessential items in non-containment zones

The Centre has extended the lockdown till May 31 with several relaxations in non-containment zones and allowed states to decide the colour code that reflects the intensity of the Covid-19 spread in a particular area.

Some of the key changes in Lockdown 4, compared with the previous phase that ended on Sunday:

⦾ Shops of all categories, except those in malls and in containment zones, can open with staggered timings. Barber shops, salons and spas can function and e-commerce firms can deliver nonessential items in non-containment zones, PTI added. The states will have the final say on the shops that can open.

Representatives of malls have requested the government to allow them to reopen, describing the continuing bar as unfortunate and pointing out that such centres are equipped to follow social distancing and public hygiene norms under professional supervision.

⦾ Intra- and inter-state movement (with mutual consent of the states) of passenger vehicles and buses.

⦾ Hotels and restaurants cannot reopen but can operate kitchens for home delivery and takeaway services.

⦾ Sports complexes and stadiums will be permitted to open for sporting events but without spectators. (Asked whether the IPL would be allowed, the Union home ministry spokesperson refused comment).

Night curfew will remain in force between 7pm and 7am on the movement of individuals for all non-essential activities.

The states can decide on the delineation of red, orange and green zones in line with the Union health ministry’s guidelines. District administrations and local urban bodies will identify the containment and buffer zones within the red and orange zones with the help of local technical inputs and the Union ministry’s guidelines.

All domestic and international flights and Metro train services will remain prohibited. Air ambulance and flights for security purposes will be allowed.

Schools, colleges, educational training institutions, hotels, gyms, swimming pools and cinemas will remain closed. No social, political or religious functions will be allowed, and places of worship will remain shut till May 31, the home ministry said.

The practice of working from home should be followed to the extent possible and staggering of work hours should be adopted by all offices and establishments. There should be thermal scanning and use of hand sanitisers at all entry and exit points and common areas, the guidelines said.

Via : Telegraph

How Can We Stop This if They Sleep on Tracks, SC Says on Migrants Killed in Aurangabad, Rejects Shelter Plea

In pic : Migrant workers from other states desperate to return to their homes walk through rail tracks towards a train station in Ahmedabad on May 11, 2020. (Photo: AP)

The court made the observation as it refused to direct the government to give migrant workers shelter or free transportation.

The Supreme Court on Friday said it was impossible for anyone to stop migrant workers from walking back to their homes and refused to direct the government to give them shelter or free transportation.

“How do you stop people who want to keep walking? Can anyone go and stop them? Impossible for anyone to stop them,” a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, Sanjay Kaul and BR Gavai said.

The court refused to entertain the plea after the Centre informed that arrangements have been made for the migrants to return home, “but some don't want to wait and start walking on foot.”

“Migrants must have patience to wait for their turn,” Solicitor General Tushar Meha told the bench.

Mehta said authorities can only request these people not to start walking on foot as using any force to stop them would be counter-productive.

The petitioner, lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava, also highlighted the issue of 16 migrant workers getting killed after being run over by a train in Aurangabad last week, to which the court responded: “How can anyone stop this when they sleep on railway tracks?”

The workers crushed to death by a freight train last Friday had been walking along the rail tracks for around 45km and slept there due to exhaustion, officials had said.

The bench, which said it was not inclined to hear the plea, observed that it is impossible for the court to monitor who is walking and who is not walking.

It also berated the advocate, saying his petition was "totally based" on newspaper clippings. "Every advocate read incidents in the paper and become knowledgeable about every subject. Your knowledge is totally based on newspaper clippings and then you want this court to decide. Let the state decide. Why should this court decide or hear? We will give you special pass. Can you go and implement government orders?" the court said, dismissing the petition.

The petitioner had wanted the court to pass directions to all district magistrate to identify those stranded and ensure shelter, food and free transport for them.

Dozens of migrant workers have fallen sick or died on their way home, either from fatigue or in accidents, underscoring the extreme risks the poor have been exposed to under measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Migrant labourers have been walking back to their rural homes since the lockdown was announced in March as their income dried up overnight. The Centre, criticised for ignoring their plight, started running special Shramik trains earlier this month to ferry them home. The Railways says over a million have been sent back so far.

But activists, which helps such migrant labourers, said many were still trying to get home on foot because registering for the transport was too difficult.

Source : News18.com

Lockdown extended till May 3, nationwide vigil for hotspots till April 20

Guidelines on easing curbs tomorrow, promises PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The Prime Minister has extended the nationwide lockdown to May 3, stressing that strict stay-at-home measures would be enforced till April 20 to further thwart the spread of the coronavirus. Twitter/@narendramodi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi prolonged the tough Covid-19 lockdown rules now in force till May 3 and showered praise on all Indians for enduring the stay-at-home rules but added that there could be some loosening of curbs after April 20 outside of hotspots to allow operation of certain essential activities.

In a televised address to the nation, Modi said that detailed guidelines would be released Wednesday on relaxations in certain sectors, most probably including agriculture, which might otherwise be badly hit.

However, the Prime Minister’s fourth broadcast since the Covid-19 pandemic began was conspicuously silent on any larger economic package to prevent a sharp slowdown in the coming months. Instead, it stuck to generalities with Modi showering praise on all Indians saying, “for the sake of your country, you are fulfilling your duties like a disciplined soldier.”

Modi said the government would be keeping a district-level eye on the entire country to ensure that new disease hotspots did not emerge. “Until 20th April, every town, every police station, every district, every state will be evaluated on how much the lockdown is being followed,” he warned.

The Prime Minister’s speech received mixed reactions with people saying they had expected more substantial announcements about government measures both to counter the disease and also on how specific sectors could be kickstarted back to life.

The Congress Party soon after the speech backed the lockdown extension but said the government had done nothing for migrant workers stranded at the borders of several states. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari also pointed out that, “He also did not talk about ramping up mass testing in the country for Covid-19 and did not specify steps taken to increase the purchase of personal protection equipment.”

Similarly, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “India delayed the purchase of testing kits and is now critically short of them.” He added: “With just 149 tests per million Indians, we are now in the company of Laos (157), Niger (182) & Honduras (162).”

Indications that there would be no substantive announcements during today’s (Tuesday) 24-minute speech came early on when the Prime Minister started out by mentioning that it was Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s birthday and that, “This display of our collective strength, by us, the people of India, is a true tribute to Baba Saheb Doctor Bhim Rao Ambedkar, on his birth anniversary. Baba Saheb’s life inspires us to combat each challenge with determination and hard work.”

The Prime Minister also enumerated what he felt were his government’s early actions to counter Covid-19 and said that but for these the pandemic might have had a more devastating impact on the country. “Long before we had even a single case of Corona, India had started screening travellers coming in from Corona-affected countries at airports. Much before the number of Corona patients reached 100, India had made 14-day isolation mandatory for all those coming in from abroad. Malls, clubs and gyms were shut down in many places.”

He added: “When we had only 550 Corona cases, then itself India had taken the big step of a 21-day complete lockdown. India did not wait for the problem to aggravate. Rather, we attempted to nip the problem in the bud itself, by taking quick decisions as soon as it arose.”

Modi argued that the government’s actions had produced the desired results: “It is clearly evident from the experience of the past few days, that we have chosen the correct path. Our country has greatly benefited from social distancing and lockdown.”

The 21-day lockdown which has been in force since March 25 was scheduled to end Tuesday and indeed many businessmen had been hoping that a limited return to work would be allowed so that their businesses would not suffer further.

Soon after the Prime Minister’s speech, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that regular commercial flights would be suspended till May 3 and the railway ministry announced that regular train services would also be suspended during the extended lockdown period.

The decision to prolong the lockdown did not come as a total surprise. Seven state governments including Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra had already announced that the lockdown would continue before the Prime Minister’s speech. Maharashtra has been the worst hit by the pandemic with more than 2,330 cases recorded on April 14 at 8am. The state has also had 160 fatalities, far higher than any other state.

Modi also offered words of praise for state governments which have had to do most of the work in controlling the infection. He said: “The state governments have also acted with great responsibility in this, managing the situation round the clock. I have been in continuous touch with the states on how the fight against Corona should progress in India. Everyone has suggested that the lockdown should be continued. Many states have in fact already decided and declared to continue the lockdown.”

The Prime Minister also pointed to the fact that the rabi crop is being harvested now and that the kharif would have to be sown soon. “The Central and State governments are working together to minimise the problems of the farmers,” he added.

The Prime Minister ended his address by appealing to the nation to follow seven steps or, as he noted, “saptapadi”. He entreated Indians to take care of the elderly and advised people to take care of themselves. “Follow the instructions issued by AYUSH ministry to enhance your immunity. Regularly consume warm water, ‘kadha’ (with spices),” he said.

The other five suggestions were: observe the lakshmanrekha of lockdown and social distancing amid use of home-made masks’ download the Arogya Setu app and encourage all others to do so, help the poor and needy with food, do not lay off employees of your businesses and enterprises in these difficult times, and last, extend all help and cooperation to “our covid warriors” who include doctors, nurses, ward boys and all others providing essential services.

By Paran Balakrishnan in New Delhi, TT

Despite lockdown, about 200 tea gardens open in north Bengal

Sprawling across the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars, the belt has another 40,000 small growers who employ one lakh labourers. Most of these gardens operated on Tuesday.

Writes : Snigdhendu Bhattacharya and Pramod Giri , Hindustan Times, Kolkata/Siliguri

Thousands of workers in about 200 tea gardens in northern West Bengal continued to work on Tuesday, despite a complete lockdown announced by Mamata Banerjee from Monday evening, triggering a huge controversy.

The Darjeeling hills and Dooars region of West Bengal have 283 tea gardens, employing 350,000 permanent and casual workers, who earn Rs 176 per day besides the weekly ration.

Sprawling across the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars, the belt has another 40,000 small growers who employ one lakh labourers. Most of these gardens operated on Tuesday.

While no worker turned up on Wednesday, the gardens have not yet issued any notification stating closure of operations. It remained uncertain whether the gardens would function on Wednesday, as a section of workers were confused and panicked over the prospect of a loss of pay.

Ram Avtar Sharma, secretary of the Dooars branch of Tea Association of India, said that they did not receive “any specific instruction” from the administration to keep the gardens closed.

“Most of the gardens in Dooars were open on Tuesday but none functioned on Wednesday because workers did not turn up,” Sharma said.

Prabir Kumar Bhattacharya, the secretary-general of Tea Association of India, said that the government order issued announcing lockdown from March 23 did not mention the areas where the gardens are located.

“In view of the revised order issued by the chief secretary on March 24 when the entire state of West Bengal has been advised to be locked out, the industry shall be taking a decision on this matter soon,” Bhattacharya said.

The March 22 order enforcing the Complete Safety Regulations had mentioned the towns of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kurseung, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jaigaon in the three districts.

It had instructed a five-day closure of all public transport facilities, shops, commercial establishments, factories workshops and godowns and prohibited the gathering of more than seven persons from Monday evening.

The order issued by the state government on March 24, extending the lockdown till March 31, mentioned ‘whole of West Bengal’.

“This is the time for the first flush, which fetches the highest price, and helps us survive throughout the year. Closing gardens would amount to huge losses. Besides, workers would demand wages and ration if we close the gardens on our own. Let the administration close them down if they want,” a manager of a tea garden, who did not want to be identified, said.

Saman Pathak, a leader of the Joint Forum of Trade Unions in the Tea Industry who belongs to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), wrote a letter to the district magistrate on Tuesday, appealing to implement Complete Safety Regulations in the gardens.

Local human rights activist Rupan Deb said that the administration needed to send teams in the gardens to inquire about people’s travel history.

“Many family members of garden workers migrate to other states, including Kerala and Maharashtra, for work in different industries. Many of them have returned recently but have not reported them to the administration. If the administration does not take precautionary steps immediately and fails to ensure wages and rations, there could be trouble,” Deb said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Alipurduars MP John Barla alleged that tea gardens’ management forced and threatened workers to join plucking tea leaves.

“They forced workers to gather at the gardens. The tea gardens owners are risking the lives of thousands of workers for their monetary benefits,” Barla alleged.

Sonia Jabbar, the owner of Nuxalbari Tea Estate, rubbished Barla’s allegations.

“We come under the organised sector and we act only on the basis of written communication from our association or the administration. There was no such communication. We only take orders. Everything is decided by three parties - government, unions and owners through the ITA and other associations. So there’s no question of forcing workers,” Jabbar said.

“The allegation of forcing workers to work is absolutely baseless. On the other hand, we at our garden ensured that every worked maintained the distance of six feet and washed their hands every two hours. Now that the prime minister has announced a country-wide total lockdown for 21 days, we will not function from Wednesday,” she added.

However, BJP’s Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga alleged that most of the gardens in Alipurduars did not follow safety measures, including maintaining the minimum distance between workers.

There are nine Covid-19 patients in the state, which has also reported one death, so far.

Source : Hindustan Times

कोरोना वायरस: मुश्किल में पड़ीं दुती चंद, ओलिंपिक खेलने की उम्मीदों को लगा झटका

भारत की फर्राटा क्वीन दुती चंद के लिए ओलिंपिक्स का टिकट कटाना मुश्किल हो गया है क्योंकि कोविड-19 महामारी के कारण वह जर्मनी में अभ्यास और प्रतियोगिताओं में भाग नहीं ले पा रही हैं।

भारत की फर्राटा क्वीन दुती चंद के लिए ओलिंपिक्स का टिकट कटाना मुश्किल हो गया है क्योंकि कोविड-19 महामारी के कारण वह जर्मनी में अभ्यास और प्रतियोगिताओं में भाग नहीं ले पा रही हैं। दुती को जर्मनी में दो मार्च से ओलिंपिक्स क्वॉलिफायर्स में भाग लेना था, लेकिन वीजा और प्रायोजन मिलने के बावजूद वह कोरोना वायरस के कारण नहीं जा सकीं। दुती ने कहा, ‘मुझे जर्मनी में दो मार्च से प्रतिस्पर्धा में भाग लेना था। मुझे यूरोप में कुछ अच्छी प्रतियोगिताओं में हिस्सा लेना था ताकि ओलिंपिक्स के लिए क्वॉलिफाइ कर सकूं लेकिन कोरोना वायरस के कारण मेरी योजनाओं पर पानी फिर गया।'

उन्होंने कहा, 'मैंने वीजा और बाकी यात्रा दस्तावेज बना लिए थे और मैं जर्मनी जाने को तैयार थी कि मुझे वहां से संदेश मिला कि कोरोना वायरस के कारण मैं वहां नहीं आऊं। मैं बहुत निराश हूं।’

INSPIRIA KNOWLEDGE CAMPUS ORGANISES YOUTH RUN ON MARCH 29

Inspiria Knowledge Campus will organize YOUTH RUN 2020 on the 29th of March featuring over 1000 runners from Siliguri and surrounding areas. This is the third year of Inspiria’s YOUTH RUN which is now an annual event in its calendar. 

The idea behind the YOUTH RUN is to promote awareness about health and fitness among the people. This year has over 14 sponsors for the run. Powered by spot has been taken by Winkie’s - the cake Specialist, and Tata Pravesh and Axis bank are Associate Sponsors.

Like in the last two years, the YOUTH RUN will have two sections – the 5 km run and the 10 km run. Participants cutting across all ages will run through Himachal Vihar and Uttorayon to complete the 5 km/10 km stretches. As part of the running kit each runner will be provided a personalised name printed bib and a stylish T10 branded running T-shirt. Runners who have registered themselves for the event would have to report to the campus at 6:45 a.m as the run would be flagged off at 7:30 a.m.

Runners will experience unique features along the route like a dedicated cheer squad sponsored by Apollo clinic and energy drink sponsored by Fast & Up. Once runners reach the finish line, each finisher will we galanded with a unique medal made for this edition. 

Live bytes will be aired on Radio Mirchi and live posts will be put up by Khabar Samay on Social media platforms. Each participant will be offered fresh sandwiches by Subway and Keventer Bananas and with this offering will further endorse healthy eating. Free Digital photos will be made available to the runners within a few hours of race completion, this technology has never been used before in Siliguri.

There will be 6 winners in each race category, 3 male and 3 female, each winner will be awarded certificate, trophy and shoes from Ajanta Impakto as part of the winnings.

To create more awareness about the run, this year we have roped in Priti Rai, who is the winner of Tata Mumbai Marathon, Mr. Siliguri and Mr Jayraj Pradhan, Fitness Coach

To help our runners achieve their PB’s and finish the run in a desired time we have pacers spread across timings.

The YOUTH RUN event is geared to a noble cause. Funds generated from the run would be used to support under-privileged meritorious students.

Regards,

Rahul Gupta

Race Director

93-Year-Old Gentleman Finishes Masters In Public Administration From IGNOU

This 93-Year-Old Gentleman Finishes Masters In Public Administration From IGNOU

Mr Sivasubramanian received his masters' degree in public administration at the convocation and his zest for knowledge was praised by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' who called him a 90-year-old "youngster".

New Delhi: "Family responsibilities kept me from pursuing my passion for studies, but at 87, finally, that opportunity knocked on my door," said 93-year-old CI Sivasubramanian who was the oldest student at the IGNOU convocation on Monday. Mr Sivasubramanian received his masters' degree in public administration at the convocation and his zest for knowledge was praised by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' who called him a 90-year-old "youngster". 

"After finishing my school in 1940s, I wanted to go to college but that meant either shifting to Trichy or Chennai. Meanwhile, both my parents fell ill and my relatives advised me against going because I had to take care of them. So, I got a job and started working," he told PTI. 

Later, the family shifted to Delhi, and he got a job as a clerk in the Ministry of Commerce in 1940s. 

Over the years, he kept rising through the ranks, after appearing for various departmental exams, to finally retire as a director from the ministry in 1986 at the age of 58, but his one dream remained unfulfilled-- that of becoming a graduate. 

"In fact, I was offered an opportunity to be part of a programme in the United Nations. But since I was not a graduate, I could not go. 

"During my tenure at the ministry, I even enquired about the correspondence courses available at Delhi University but then I was transferred and could not pursue them," he said. 

The nonagenarian wanted to pursue studies after his retirement but then family responsibilities and ensuring that his children got the best education meant that his dream was put on the backburner. 

He has three daughters and a son, all of whom have retired from prestigious positions. 

"My grandchildren have finished their studies and some of them are married. One of my granddaughters is studying medicine in the US," he said. 

"I taught my children English and Maths when they were in school, but I myself could not pursue graduation then," he said. 

However, an unlikely turn of events ended up steering him in the direction of his dream. 

"My wife was rendered bedridden when I was 87. I used to be by her bedside all through the day and my daughters would also come. 

"One day, her physiotherapist said that he would leave a little early that day as he had to go to IGNOU to collect his form to apply for a course. I asked him to find out whether I could also apply. 

"He found that age is no bar at IGNOU and then I enrolled for the bachelors' course in public administration even though I told my children, 'I do not know whether I will be alive long enough to complete it'. After finishing my graduation, I enrolled for the masters degree," he said. 

In the last six years, his routine revolved around getting up at 5 am and immersing himself in books. 

"I would study early in the morning so that I could keep time for other activities through the day. I am a sports enthusiast also and love watching sports," he said. 

As his handwriting became illegible with age, his daughter used to write his assignments and she was also his scribe during exams. A tragedy struck him last year when he lost his wife, but not before she held his degree in her hands. 

"I had completed my degree but it was only after a year that I received it. In that period, my wife was in her last stages and I handed her the degree and told her, 'Finally, your husband is a graduate'. She passed away two days later," he said. 

Asked about his plans now, he said, "I wanted to pursue MPhil but then one of my daughters said, 'There are few seats in MPhil and if you enroll for it, you will snatch the seat of an eligible candidate. 

"I have asked them whether I can pursue another masters' course but I will see. Meanwhile, I have learnt that there are short-term courses offered by some websites, so I will probably choose one of them," he said