Latest List Of Services Exempted From The 21-Day Lockdown

On Thursday night, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement on Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for maintaining the supply of essential goods, "to relieve hardships faced by people during 21-day nationwide lockdown to fight the Coronavirus outbreak."

"The Union Home Secretary, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla wrote to all States/UTs and asked them to ensure the availability of essential goods to people during the period of the lockdown. For this, the SOPs suggest to let e-commerce remain operational and encourage home delivery of essential goods while ensuring strict social distancing," the statement said.

It has been prescribed that employees or persons engaged in the supply chain shall be allowed to commute on the basis of e-pass or any other certification issued by the concerned local authorities, on the production of a valid photo identity card. In the unorganized sector, those supplying essential goods may be allowed based on approval/authorization by the local authorities.

Facilities engaged in the supply of essential goods would also require to carry out regular health and sanitation check-up of employees engaged and provide them with proper protective gear.

Earlier this week, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 21-day lockdown (starting 25 March) to curb the spread of COVID-19, the MHA had issued guidelines on exceptions to the lockdown. Several revisions were made to the guidelines to exclude the following services for shutting down:

• Hospitals and all related medical establishments, including their manufacturing and distribution units such as dispensaries, chemist, medical equipment shops, laboratories, clinics, nursing homes, ambulance, etc.
• Transportation for all medical personnel and hospital support staff.
• Veterinary hospitals.
• Pharmacies.
• Pharmaceutical research labs.
• Shops, including PDS (ration shops) dealing with food, groceries, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, fish, animal fodder, seeds and pesticides. However, district authorities have been encouraged to facilitate home delivery to minimize movement of individuals.
• Manufacturing units of essential goods.
• Banks and IT vendors of banking operations.
• Insurance offices.
• ATMs, banking correspondents, ATM operation and cash management agencies.
• Print and electronic media.
• Telecommunication services.
• Internet services.
• Broadcasting and cable services.
• IT and IT-enabled services (for essential services). However, with instructions to function from home as far as possible.
• Delivery of essential goods through e-commerce platforms.
• Fuel stations (Petrol Pumps).
• LPG, petroleum and gas retail as well as storage outlets.
• Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services.
• Capital and debt market services notified by SEBI.
• Cold storage and warehouses.
• Private security services.
• Hotels, homestays, motels or lodges shall remain closed except for those that are accomodating tourists or any person stranded due to the lockdown including those in the emergency/medical services, air and sea crew.
• Transportation only for essential goods, fire, law & order, emergency services, railways/airports/seaport operations and interstate movement of goods/cargo for inland and exports.
• Cross land border movement of essential goods including petroleum products, LPG, food products, medical supplies.
• Government offices of defence, armed police forces, home guards, police, treasury, public utilities, civil defence, fire and emergency services, sanitation, electricity, water, disaster management, prisons, forest offices, social welfare departments, customs clearance, GSTN, MCA 21 Registry, Pay & Account Offices, CGA, financial advisers, RBI, NPCI, CCIL, payment system operators and standalone primary dealers will remain functional with the minimum number of employees.