Central Government Offices to function with 33% staff from 20th April 2020 – 100% in essential services

Central Government Offices to function with 33% staff from 20th April 2020 – 100% in essential services

Consolidated Revised Guidelines issued by Home Ministry on 15th April 2020 - Lockdown to continue till 3rd May 2020

While Country wide Lockdown to contain COVID-19 has been imposed from 15th April 2020 to 3rd May 2020, Central Government Offices, State Government Offices, Industrial establishments, commercial and private establishments etc will be opened with Minimum Staff from 20th April 2020

Offices   of the  Government    of  India,  its  Autonomous /   Subordinate    Offices connected essential services such as Defence, Central Armed Police Forces, Health and Family Welfare,  Disaster management   and Early Warning  Agencies  (IMD,  INCOIS,  SASE and  National Centre   of   Seismology,    CWC),   National    Informatics    Centre   (NIC),   Food Corporation   of  India  (FCI),  NCC,  Nehru  Yuva  Kendras  (NYKs)  and  Customs to function  without  any restriction.

Other Central Government Departments and offices are to function with 100% Attendance of Deputy Secretary and levels above. Remaining Officers and staff are to attend up 33% as per requirement

No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A)

Government of India

Ministry of Home Affairs

North Block, New Delhi-110001
Dated 15thApril, 2020

ORDER

Whereas, in exercise of the powers, conferred under Section 10(2)(1)of the Disaster Management Act 2005, the undersigned, in his capacity as Chairperson, National Executive Committee, has issued an Order dated 14thApril, 2020  that the lockdown measures stipulated in the Consolidated Guidelines of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for containment of COVID-19 epidemic in the country, will continue to remain in force upto 3rd  May, 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country;

Whereas, to mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities will be allowed, which will come into effect from zo” April, 2020.  However, these additional

activities will be operationalized by States/ Union Territories (UTs)/ District Administrations based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines on lockdown measures.  Before operating these relaxations, States/ UTs/ District Administrations shall ensure that all preparatory arrangements with  regard to social distancing in offices,   workplaces,   factories   and   establishments,   as   also   other   sectoral requirements are in place. The consolidated revised guidelines incorporating these relaxations are enclosed;

Whereas, the consolidated revised guidelines will not apply in containment zones, as demarcated by States/ UTs/ District administrations.   If any new area is included in the category of a containment zone, the activities allowed in that area till the time of its categorization as a containment zone, will be suspended except for those activities as are specifically permitted under the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India;

Whereas, in exercise of the powers, conferred under Section 10(2)(1)of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned, in his capacity as Chairperson, National  Executive Committee,  hereby  issues directions to  all the  all  Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, State/Union Territory Governments and State/Union   Territory   Authorities   for   the   strict   implementation   of   enclosed consolidated revised guidelines.

To:

1. The Secretaries of Ministries/ Departments of Government of India

2.  The Chief Secretaries/Administrators of States/Union Territories

(As per list attached)

Copy to:

i.   All members of the National Executive Committee.

ii.  Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority.

Consolidated   Revised   Guidelines  on  the  measures  to  be  taken   by  Ministries Departments   of  Government   of  India,   State   UT  Governments   and  State   UT authorities  for  containment  of COVID-19 in the  country

[As  per  Ministry   of  Home  Affairs   (MHA)  Order  No. 40-32020-DM-1 (A) dated  15th April, 2020]

1.     With  the  extension of  the  lockdown period,  the  following  activities will continue to remain prohibited across the country  until  3rd May, 2020:

i.      All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for purposes enumerated in para 4 (ix), and for security purposes.

ii.     All passenger movement by trains, except for security purposes. iii.      Buses for public transport.

iv.     Metro rail services.

v.       Inter-district  and  inter-State  movement  of  individuals  except  for  medical reasons or for activities permitted under these guidelines.

vi.     All educational, training, coaching institutions etc. shall remain closed.

vii.     All industrial and commercial activities other than those specifically permitted under these guidelines.

viii.      Hospitality  services  other  than  those  specifically  permitted  under  these guidelines.

ix.       Taxis  (including auto rickshaws and  cycle rickshaws) and services of cab aggregators.

x.      All cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.

xi.     All   social   political  sports   entertainment  academic   cultural   religious functions other gatherings.

xii.     All  religious places places of worship shall be closed for public. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.

xiii.        In case of funerals, congregation of more than twenty persons will  not be permitted.

2.     Operation of guidelines in Hotspots and containment zones

i.       ‘Hotspots’, i.e., areas of large COVID-19 outbreaks, or clusters with significant spread  of COVID-19, will  be determined  as  per the  guidelines  issued  by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (Gol).

ii.     In these hotspots, containment zones will be demarcated  by States UTs

District administrations as per the guidelines of MoHFW.

iii.       In these containment zones, the activities allowed under these guidelines will not be permitted. There shall be strict perimeter control in the area of the containment zones to ensure that there  is no unchecked  inward outward movement of population from these zones except for maintaining essential services (including medical emergencies and  law and order related duties) and Government business continuity.  The guidelines issued in this regard by MoHFW will be strictly implemented by State/ UT Governments and the local district authorities.

3.      Select  permitted  activities  allowed   with  effect  from  20th  April, 2020:

i.       To  mitigate  hardship to  the  public,  select  additional  activities  have  been allowed which  will  come  into effect  from  20th April,  2020.   These  limited

exemptions  will  be operationalized  by States/ UTs/ district administrations

based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines.   Also, before allowing these  select additional activities, States/  UTs/ district administrations shall ensure  that  all  preparatory  arrangements  with  regard  to  the  Standard Operating  Procedures (SOPs) for  social  distancing  in offices, workplaces, factories and establishments, as also other sectoral requirements are in place.

ii.     The  consolidated  revised  guidelines  incorporating  these  select  permitted activities have been enumerated in paras 5-20 below.

4.      Strict  enforcement of the lockdown guidelines

i.       State/ UT Governments shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner, and shall strictly enforce the same.

ii.       State/ UT Governments, may, however, impose stricter measures than these guidelines as per requirement of the local areas.

5.      All health services  (including AYUSH)to remain functional, such as:

i.     Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, telemedicine facilities.

ii.     Dispensaries, chemists, pharmacies, all  kinds of medicine shops including

Jan Aushadhi Kendras and medical equipment shops.

iii.     Medical laboratories and collection centres.

iv.     Pharmaceutical and medical research labs, institutions carrying out COVID-19 related research.

v.     Veterinary Hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, pathology labs, sale and supply of vaccine and medicine.

vi.     Authorised private establishments, which support the provisioning of essential services, or efforts for containment of COVID-19, including home care providers, diagnostics, supply chain firms serving hospitals.

vii.        Manufacturing  units  of  drugs,  pharmaceuticals,  medical  devices,  medical oxygen, their packaging material, raw material and intermediates.

viii.      Construction  of   medical  health  infrastructure  including  manufacture  of ambulances.

ix.     Movement (inter and intra State, including by air) of all medical and veterinary personnel, scientists, nurses, para-medical staff, lab technicians, mid-wives and other hospital support services, including ambulances.

6.      Agricultural and related activities:

A.       All agricultural and horticultural activities to remain fully functional, such as:

i.     Farming operations by farmers and farm workers in field.

ii.     Agencies  engaged  in procurement of  agriculture  products,  including  MSP

operations.

iii.      ‘Mandis’ operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) or as  notified  by the  State/  UT  Government  (e.g., satellite  mandis).    Direct marketing operations by the State/ UT Government or by industry, directly

from  farmers/  group  of farmers,   FPOs’  co-operatives   etc.    States/  UTs  may promote  decentralized   marketing  and procurement  at village  level.

iv.     Shops of agriculture  machinery,  its spare parts (including  its supply  chain)  and repairs to remain open.

v.      ‘Custom  Hiring Centres  (CHC), related  to farm machinery.

vi.     Manufacturing,   distribution  and retail of fertilizers,  pesticides  and seeds.

vii.       Movement  (inter  and  intra  State)  of harvesting  and  sowing  related  machines like combined  harvester  and other agriculture/  horticulture  implements.

B.        Fisheries  – the following  activities  will be functional:

i.       Operations  of the fishing  (marine and inland)/ aquaculture   industry,  including feeding   & maintenance,   harvesting,   processing,   packaging,   cold  chain,  sale and marketing.

ii.     Hatcheries,  feed plants,  commercial  aquaria.

iii.       Movement  of fish/ shrimp  and fish products,  fish seed/ feed and workers  for all these  activities.

c.     Plantations-  the following  activities  will be functional:

i.     Operations    of  tea,  coffee   and  rubber   plantations,   with   maximum   of  50%

workers.

ii.       Processing,  packaging,  sale and marketing  of tea,  coffee,  rubber  and cashew, with  maximum  of 50% workers.

D.        Animal  husbandry  –  the following  activities  will be functional:

i.       Collection,  processing,   distribution  and sale of milk and  milk products  by milk processing  plants,  including  transport  and supply chain.

ii.       Operation  of animal  husbandry  farms  including  poultry farms  & hatcheries  and livestock  farming  activity.

iii.     Animal  feed  manufacturing   and feed  plants,  including  supply  of raw material, such as maize and soya.

iv.     Operation  of animal  shelter  homes,  including  Gausha/as.

7.     Financial sector: following to remain functional:

i.     Reserve  Bank of India (RBI) and  RBI regulated  financial  markets  and  entities like NPCI, CCll,   payment  system  operators  and standalone  primary  dealers.

ii.	Bank   branches	and  ATMs,   IT  vendors   for   banking   operations,    Banking
	Correspondents	(BCs), ATM operation  and cash management   agencies.

a.    Bank  branches  be allowed  to work  as per normal working  hours till disbursal of DBT cash transfers  is complete.

b.   local     administration     to   provide   adequate    security    personnel    at   bank branches    and   BCs   to   maintain    social   distancing,    law   and   order   and staggering  of account  holders.

iii.     SEBI,  and  capital  and debt  market  services  as notified  by the  Securities   and

Exchange  Board of India (SEBI).

iv.     IRDAI and Insurance  companies.

8.      Social  sector:    following  to   remain  functional:

i.       Operation    of   homes   for   children/    disabled/    mentally    challenged/    senior citizens/  destitutes/  women/  widows.

ii.      Observation  homes,  after care homes and places of safety for juveniles.

iii.        Disbursement    of  social   security   pensions,   e.g.,   old  agel   widow/   freedom fighter  pensions;  pension  and provident  fund services  provided  by Employees Provident  Fund Organisation   (EPFO).

iv.      Operation  of Anganwadis –  distribution of food items and nutrition once in 15 days at the doorsteps of beneficiaries, e.g., children, women and lactating mothers.  Beneficiaries will not attend the Anganwadis.

9.      Online teaching and distance learning to be encouraged:

i.     All educational, training, coaching institutions etc. shall remain closed.

ii.     However,  these  establishments  are  expected  to  maintain  the  academic schedule through online teaching.

iii.     Maximum use of Doordarshan (DO) and other educational channels may be made for teaching purposes.

10.    MNREGAworks to be allowed:

i.       MNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and face mask.

ii.       Priority to  be  given  under  MNREGA to  irrigation  and  water  conservation works.

iii.     Other Central and State sector schemes in irrigation and water conservation sectors may also be allowed to be implemented and suitably dovetailed with MNREGA works.

11.    Public  utilities:  following to remain functional:

i.       Operations   of   Oil   and   Gas   sector,   including   refining,   transportation, distribution, storage and retail of products, e.g., petrol, diesel, kerosene, CNG, LPG, PNG etc.

ii.     Generation, transmission and distribution of power at Central and Statel UT

levels.

iii.      Postal services, including post offices.

iv.     Operations of utilities in water, sanitation and waste management sectors, at municipal/ local body levels in States and UTs.

v.     Operation of utilities providing telecommunications and internet services.

12.    Movement, loading / unloading of goods / cargo  (inter  and  intra  State)  is allowed, as under:

i.     All goods traffic will be allowed to ply.

ii.     Operations of Railways:     Transportation of goods and parcel trains.

iii.      Operations  of  Airports  and  related  facilities  for  air  transport  for  cargo movement, relief and evacuation.

iv.     Operations  of  Seaports  and  Inland  Container  Depots  (ICDs)  for  cargo transport, including authorized custom clearing and forwarding agents.

v.      Operations   of  Land  Ports  for  cross  land  border  transportation    of  essential goods,    including    petroleum    products    and   LPG,   food   products,    medical supplies.

vi.       Movement  of all trucks  and other  goods/  carrier  vehicles  with two drivers  and one  helper  subject  to  the  driver  carrying  a  valid  driving   license;   an  empty truck  vehicle  will be allowed  to ply after the delivery  of goods,  or for pick up of goods.

vii.       Shops  for truck  repairs  and  dhabas  on highways,  with  a stipulated  minimum distance  as prescribed  by the State/  UT authorities.

viii.        Movement  of staff  and  contractual   labour  for  operations   of railways,  airports/ air carriers,  seaports/  ships/ vessels,  landports  and  ICDs is allowed  on passes being  issued  by the local authority  on the basis of authorizations   issued by the respective   designated   authority  of the  railways,  airports,   seaports,   land ports and ICDs.

13.    Supply   of essential   goods   is allowed,   as under:

i.       All  facilities   in  the   supply   chain   of  essential   goods,   whether   involved   in manufacturing,   wholesale   or retail  of such  goods  through   local  stores,  large brick  and  mortar   stores   or  e-Commerce    companies   should   be  allowed   to operate,  ensuring  strict social distancing  without  any restriction  on their timing of opening  and closure.

ii.       Shops  (including  Kirana and single shops selling essential goods) and carts, including ration shops (under PDS), dealing with food and groceries (for daily use),  hygiene items, fruits and vegetables, dairy and  milk booths, poultry, meat and fish,  animal feed and fodder etc, should be allowed to operate, ensuring  strict  social  distancing  without  any  restriction  on their  timing  of opening and closure.

iii.       District authorities may encourage and facilitate home delivery to minimize the movement of individuals outside their homes.

14.   Commercial  and private  establishments,   as listed  below,  will  be allowed to operate:

i.     Print and electronic media including broadcasting, DTH and cable services. ii.     IT and IT enabled Services, with upto 50% strength.

iii.      Data and call centres for Government activities only.

iv.      Government approved Common Service Centres (CSCs) at Gram Panchayat level.

v.     E-commerce companies.   Vehicles used bye-commerce   operators will  be allowed to ply with necessary permissions.

vi.     Courier services.

vii.      Cold storage and warehousing services, including at ports, airports, railway stations,  container  Depots, individual units and  other  links in the  logistics chain.

viii.      Private security services and facilities management services for maintenance and upkeep of office and residential complexes.

ix.        Hotels,  homestays,  lodges and motels, which  are accommodating   tourists  and persons  stranded  due to lockdown,  medical  and emergency   staff,  air and sea crew.

x.      Establishments   used earmarked  for quarantine  facilities.

xi.        Services   provided   by  self-employed    persons,   e.g.,   electrician,    IT  repairs, plumbers,  motor mechanics,  and carpenters.

15.    Industries / Industrial   Establishments   (both   Government  and  private),  as listed   below,  will  be allowed to operate:

i.       Industries   operating    in   rural   areas,   i.e.,   outside   the   limits   of  municipal corporations   and municipalities.

ii.       Manufacturing    and  other   industrial   establishments    with   access   control   in Special  Economic  Zones  (SEZs)  and Export  Oriented  Units  (EoUs),  industrial estates,    and    industrial    townships.        These    establishments     shall    make arrangements   for stay of workers  within  their premises  as far as possible  and or  adjacent    buildings   and   for   implementation    of  the   Standard   operating protocol   (SOP)  as  referred  to  in  para  21  (ii)  below.    The  transportation    of workers   to  work   place   shall   be  arranged   by  the  employers    in  dedicated transport  by ensuring  social distancing.

iii.      Manufacturing    units  of  essential   goods,   including   drugs,   pharmaceuticals, medical  devices,  their raw material  and intermediates.

iv.      Food  processing   industries  in rural  areas,  i.e., outside  the  limits  of municipal corporations   and municipalities.

v.      Production  units, which  require continuous  process,  and their supply  chain. vi.      Manufacturing   of IT hardware.

vii.       Coal  production,  mines  and mineral  production,  their transportation,   supply  of explosives  and activities  incidental  to mining operations.

viii.       Manufacturing   units of packaging  material.

ix.      Jute industries  with staggered  shifts and social distancing. x. Oil and gas exploration   refinery.

xi.        Brick  kilns  in rural areas  i.e., outside  the  limits  of municipal  corporations   and municipalities.

16.   Construction activities, listed as below, will be allowed to operate:

i.       Construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects, including MSMEs, in rural areas, i.e., outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities; and all kinds of projects in industrial estates.

ii.     Construction of renewable energy projects.

iii.     Continuation of works in construction projects, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside (in situ construction).

17.    Movement of persons is allowed in the following cases:

i.       Private vehicles for  emergency services, including  medical  and veterinary care, and for procuring essential commodities. In such cases, one passenger besides the private vehicle driver can be permitted in the backseat, in case of four-wheeler ;   however,  in case of two-wheeler,   only the driver of the vehicle is to be permitted.

All personnel  travelling  to place of work  and back  in the exempted  categories, as per the instructions  of the State/  UT local authority.

18. Offices   of the  Government    of  India,  its  Autonomous /   Subordinate    Offices will  remain  open,  as mentioned    below:

i. Defence, Central Armed Police Forces, Health and Family Welfare,  Disaster management   and Early Warning  Agencies  (IMD,  INCOIS,  SASE and  National Centre   of   Seismology,    CWC),   National    Informatics    Centre   (NIC),   Food Corporation   of  India  (FCI),  NCC,  Nehru  Yuva  Kendras  (NYKs)  and  Customs to function  without  any restriction.

ii. Other   Ministries   and  Departments,    and  offices   under  their  control,   are  to function   with  100%  attendance   of  Deputy  Secretary   and  levels  above  that. Remaining  officers  and staff to attend  upto 33% as per requirement.

19. Offices    of  the   Statel   Union  Territory   Governments,   their   Autonomous Bodies and Local Governments  will  remain open, as mentioned  below:

i. Police,  home guards,  civil defence, fire and  emergency services, disaster management, prisons and municipal services will function without any restrictions.

ii. All other Departments of State/ UT Governments to work with restricted staff. Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ officers may attend as required.  Group ‘C’ and levels below that may attend upto 33% of strength, as per requirement to ensure social distancing.   However, delivery of public services shall be ensured, and necessary staff will be deployed for such purpose.

iii. District administration and Treasury (including field offices of the Accountant General) will function with restricted staff. However, delivery of public services shall be ensured, and necessary staff will be deployed for such purpose.

iv. Resident Commissioner of States/ UTs, in New Delhi, only to the extent of coord inating COVI 0-19 related activities and internal kitchen operations.

v. Forest offices: staff/ workers required to operate and maintain zoo, nurseries, wildlife, fire-fighting in forests, watering plantations, patrolling and their necessary transport movement.

20. Persons to remain under mandatory  quarantine,  as under:

i. . All such persons who have been directed by health care personnel to remain under strict home/ institutional quarantine for a period as decided by local Health Authorities.

ii. Persons violating quarantine will be liable to legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, 1860.

iii. Quarantined persons, who have arrived in India after 15.2.2020, after expiry of their quarantine period and being tested Covid-19 negative, will be released following the protocol prescribed in the SOP issued by MHA.

21. Instructions   for enforcement  of above lockdown  measures:

i.      All  the  district  magistrates  shall  strictly  enforce  the  National  COVID  19 directives as specified in Annexure  I.   Penalties prescribed shall be levied and collected from all persons and entities violating these directives.

ii.       All  industrial   and  commercial   establishments,   work  places,  offices  etc.  shall put  in  place  arrangements    for  implementation    of  SOP  as  in  Annexure     II before  starting  their functioning.

iii.       In order to implement  these  containment   measures,  the  District Magistrate  will deploy  Executive  Magistrates   as Incident  Commanders   in the  respective  local jurisdictions.    The Incident   Commander  will   be   responsible    for   the   overall implementation    of these  measures   in their  respective  jurisdictions.   All  other line department   officials  in the specified  area will work  under  the directions  of such  incident   commander.   The  Incident   Commander   will  issue  passes  for enabling  essential  movements  as explained.

iv.      The   Incident    Commanders    will   in   particular    ensure    that   all   efforts   for mobilization    of   resources,    workers    and   material    for   augmentation     and expansion  of hospital  infrastructure  shall continue  without  any hindrance.

v.      Additional    activities    permitted    in these  guidelines    shall   be implemented in  a phased   manner,   after  making   all  arrangements     necessary    for  strict implementation    of the  guidelines.     These  will  come  into  force  with  effect from  20th  April,  2020.

22.   Penal provisions

Any person violating these lockdown measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides  legal  action  under  Sec.  188 of the  IPC, and  other  legal  provisions  as applicable.  Extracts of these penal provisions are at An

Anexure   III.

Union Home Secretary