Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation on Tuesday at 10 am. This will be the 3rd address by the Prime Minister ever since the COVID-19 crisis broke out in the country.
The 21-day lockdown announced by the Prime Minister is set to end tomorrow as fresh instructions will be awaited by the people. Here are the 10 things the Prime Minister may say in his address.
Extension of the Lockdown
First and foremost, the Prime Minister will announce the extension of the ongoing lockdown. However, few states have already announced the extension, the Prime Minister is expected to address the nation.
Stricter Instructions
Along with the announcement, expect rules to be stricter in phase 2 of the lockdown. The first phase of the lockdown had people breaking the rules and challenging the authorities. The authorities might get a free hand to act on the law and order situation.
Zone Markings
In his meeting with the Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister had suggested the move of zone markings. He is expected to announce the same in his address. The zones where there have been cases of the coronavirus will be marked as Red, Yellow and Green based on the level of the outbreak.
Sealing of Red Zones
Those zones that will be marked red are likely to be completely sealed down as no human mobility will be allowed. It might follow the Bhilwara model which has proven to be successful.
Relaxation for non-metro cities
The metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and others who have seen a surge in cases are likely to see any relaxations whereas other cities and towns might witness some.
Ease of functioning for agriculture
Agricultural activities are likely to be eased as the government shifts its focus to the economic impact of the lockdown. The focus will be on the procurement of the produce.
Medium and Small Scale Industries to be allowed
Medium and Small scale industries will be allowed to function with a lock-in mechanism where workers are given shelter on site. The social distancing will also be followed strictly.
Cargo and fishing to be allowed
The cargo movements of all kinds of goods will be allowed across the country. The fishing activities too will be exempted from the lockdown.
Special buses for migrant workers
Special buses will be arranged to transport migrant workers from the camps to the site of work.
Rapid Testing
Along with that, the Prime Minister is likely to announce rapid testing of people across the country that will boost the testing rates and in turn help in containing the outbreak.
Source: The Economic Times
