More on Covid-19

PM Narendra Modi to address the nation on Tuesday at 10am

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Monday spelling out details of the next phase of the national lock down to combat the COVID 19 pandemic where enforcement of social distancing will be balanced by steps to reopen the economy in a calibrated way and take more measures to help the poor.Amid near certainty that the lockdown will be extended by at least another two weeks to slow down the pace of transmission of the infection, PMO announced that Modi will address the nation on the last day of the 21-day period of “stay at home” at 10 am.The announcement came amid indications that the government is working on plans to step up assistance to the poor and those rendered jobless by the pandemic and to take the first careful steps to put the economy back on the rails. Sources said that the cache of proposals include a plan to expand scope of provision of free food grains beyond PDS beneficiaries and irrespective of there location. This can help people draw rations even in areas where their PDS cards are not registered. The proposed scheme is expected to cost between Rs 20,000-25,000 crore.Ten states have already announced extension of the lockdown till the month-end. States are likely to welcome easing of some restrictions that have brought virtually all public activity to a halt.There have been calls for measures to assist business that has been badly affected by the spread of the disease and the lockdown. While measures are on their way, the view in government is that these can await a fuller assessment of the Covid-19 fallout. The case for the poor and workers is more immediate and government needs to look at the “last man in the queue”.Prime Minister last week told CMs that while there is no getting away from the continuing enforcement of “stay-at-home” regimen , the second phase will mark a shift in approach to balance the objective of saving lives with the need to safeguard livelihoods and revive the economy.Sources said proposals under consideration include encouraging employers in construction and other sectors to bring back migrants who were working for them before leaving for their respective places. The switch from “jaan hai to jahan hai” ( saving citizen’s lives comes first ) to “jaan bhi aur jahan bhi (the world also has to be saved along with lives) is likely to see tweaking of the lockdown to allow resumption of production and manufacturing activities, at least for essential goods and related industries, while ensuring that social distancing norms are not compromised. As part of the plan being worked out, Centre will leave it for states to chart their precise exit from the lockdown.The objective seems to be to help resumption of production and manufacturing of essential items on a limited basis, with a focus on assisting small and medium businesses that do not have many employees but add up to a large number cumulatively. Production units for essential items including ancillary units such as flour mills, small units engaged in manufacturing packaging of essential items, may restart operations but with largely locally procured labour.Other proposals include allowing construction of roads with locally sourced labour and giving states leeway to open liquor shops while ensuring the enforcement of social distancing norms. However, some sectors will remain shut . Air, rail, inter-state bus transport servces will remain suspended during extended lock down. Even inter district travel will not be evenly restored due to red zones where disease burden is higher.Even establishments, like hair saloons where physical distancing cannot be implemented, will remain shut because of the fear that they may become infection hotspots.Some others, like tourism and recreational activities, may remain suspended even after the end of the lockdownThis will be the first time Modi has deviated from the 8 pm routine of his recent addresses. This is only the second pre- noon address. In the earlier instance, he had announced the successful testing of anti - satellite weaponry. However, Modi’s recorded message to the nation on April 3 was telecast at 9 am.Last month, the prime minister had addressed the nation twice — on March 19 and March 24. On March 19, he had called for resolve and restraint to fight coronavirus . He had also announced a ‘janta curfew’ on March 22, a Sunday. On March 24, he had announced the 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the Coronavirus.