New Delhi:
Indicating a phased lifting of the current nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the Union ministers to prepare a “graded plan” to slowly open departments in non-hotspots of the COVID-19, and work on a war footing to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on country’s economy.
India is currently under a 21-day lockdown from March 25, with only essential services exempted, to contain the fast-spreading virus, which has claimed more than 70,000 lives and afflicted over 12.8 lakh people across 183 countries.
Chairing a meeting of the council of ministers through video conferencing, Modi said,”a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots aren’t existing should be made.”
According to sources, the prime minister clearly indicated that the lifting of the lockdown in one go is very unlikely while discussing the modalities of lifting it.
He also asked the ministers whether the restrictions should be lifted sector-wise or district-wise, a source said.
Reiterating that lockdown measures and social distancing norms need to go hand in hand, Modi also told ministers to popularize Aarogya Setu app in the rural areas and grass root institutions.
Referring to the impact of COVID-19 on country’s economy, the prime minister said the government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact, adding that the ministries should prepare a business continuity plan.
To minimise the impact of the lockdown, the government had announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore financial package — the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, besides taking a slew measures including extending filing of the income tax and GST.
Discussing the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and harvesting of crops, Modi asked the ministers to explore the use of innovative solutions like ‘truck aggregators’ on the lines of app-based cab services to connect farmers with mandis.
“Welfare of farmers is of high importance. Government would provide all possible help to farmers in the harvesting season,” Modi said and suggested use of technology and encouraging exploration of innovative solutions in agriculture.
Laying emphasis on the effective implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), Modi told ministers to continuously monitor and ensure that the benefits of it keep reaching the intended beneficiaries in a seamless manner.
PMGKY is a Rs 1.7-lakh crore financial package announced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to minimise the impact of lockdown on economy and poor.
Ministers should remain in touch with state and district authorities, provide solutions to emergent problems and formulate district-level micro plans to combat coronavirus, he said
Reiterating that lockdown measures and social distancing norms need to go hand in hand and hand, Modi told ministers to popularize Aarogya Setu app in the rural areas and grass root institutions.
The ministers provided feedback to the prime minister on the steps being taken to meet the challenges in tackling the impact of the pandemic and praised the initiative of lighting lamps, saying people from all corners of the country participated in it.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while exhorting the people to not feel tired or defeated and expressing confidence the country will emerge victorious in its fight.
Addressing BJP workers on the party’s 40th foundation day, Modi also responded to the Opposition’s criticism about his government’s measures against COVID-19, asserting that India’s efforts have set an example for the world and drawn praise from the World Health Organisation and leaders abroad.
“This is going to be a long fight. We don’t have to tire or feel defeated. We have to win in this long battle. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the nation’s goal, mission and resolve are one, and this is to be victorious in this battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” the prime minister said.
India is among the countries which understood the seriousness of COVID-19 and launched a comprehensive and timely exercise to combat it, he said, adding that the country took one decision after another and worked to implement them on the ground.
Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, have claimed the Central government did not respond in time to the virus.
Modi, who stressed on the need for wearing face covers outside the house, listed measures like the thermal screening of international passengers, evacuation of Indian nationals abroad and barring flights from certain countries and ramping up of medical infrastructure taken by his government.
The government, he said, took “proactive” decisions with help from experts and executed them in cooperation with states.
“The speedy and holistic manner with which India acted has drawn praise not from within the country but also from the WHO,” the prime minister said and added that India played a “key role” in the holding of SAARC and G-20 meetings.
Heads of different countries have appreciated India, he said, noting that it has been coordinating with different nations and he himself hasbeen in touch with some of them.
However, the prime minister also made it clear that India is in for the long haul in the battle against the pandemic which has wreaked havoc in many countries, includingdeaths in thousands in developed nations like the US, Italy and France. He described the seriousness and maturity shown by people during the lockdown as “unprecedented”.
Nobody could have imagined that people will show such discipline and sense of service in a huge country like India, he said, adding that the nation’s collective strength was on display on Sunday evening.
Referring to Sunday’s exercise in which millions of households across the countryswitched off their lights and lit diyas, candles or turned on mobile torches, he said it prepared Indians for the long fight ahead.
“All sections of society; the rich and poor, the literate and illiterate, and people of various age groups, all joined hands to show this collective strength of 130 crore Indians. It further strengthenedour resolve in this fight against the coronavirus,” Modi said.
The 21-day nation-wide lockdown announced by Modi last month is set to end on April 14.
He urged BJP workers to follow his five-point suggestions, similar to what party president J P Nadda had said earlier.
They should ensure that no poor person goes hungry, the prime minister said.
He asked them to urge people to download the Aarogya Setu app, which informs and advises users about COVID-19, distribute face covers and asked others to sign on thank you messages to emergency staff.
Asserting that the battle against the pandemic is no less than a war, he urged party workers to donate to the PM-CARES Fund and also encourage others to contribute to it to help his government’s measures against the pandemic.
