DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (MExN): The Home Ministry has extended the scope of guidelines for exemptions from the current COVID-19 lockdown in the country.
A notice from the Home Secretary to all Chief Secretaries of the States detailed the extended exemption guidelines as follows:
- Transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential, have been allowed.
- 'Pension' under exemptions, include pension and provident fund services provided by Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
- Services of Indian Red Cross Society are also included exempted
- Groceries include hygiene products such as hand washes, soaps, disinfectants, body wash, shampoos, surface cleaners, detergents and tissue papers, toothpaste / oral care, sanitary pads and diapers, battery cells, chargers etc.
- Entire supply chain of milk collection and distribution, including its packaging material is allowed.
- Newspaper delivery supply chain is also allowed under print media.
- Central Government has also allowed use of SDRF for homeless people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures, and sheltered in the relief camps and other places for providing them food etc.
Agri, horti and allied services exempted
The Home Department, Nagaland extended the exemption list of services and goods from the current lockdown.
They include:
- Agencies involved in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations.
- ‘Mandis’ operated by the Agriculture Product Market Committee or as notified by the State Government.
- Shops selling fertilisers.
- Farming operations by farmers and farm workers in the fields.
- Manufacturing and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds.
- Intra and interstate movement of harvesting and sowing related machines like combined harvesters and other agri/horti implements.
