Lipakshi Seedhar:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 1st May 2020, announced Lockdown 3.0. Another
lockdown of 2 weeks. Another 14 days at home. By now, we have become so habitual
of waking up late, having lazy days, wearing pyjamas, watching Ramayan and other
old series that low-key we all wished that though the situation must get better but
lockdown should be extended. So, what does Lockdown 3.0 have in store for us?
For Lockdown 3.0, Ministry of Home Affairs has divided the country in 3 different zones
namely red, orange and green. The districts with substantial numbers of positive cases
would fall under the red zone. The coronavirus red zone will see no activity. Also, areas
that show a high rate of infection, which double in less than four days – will also come
under this category. The areas with limited number of cases within the past and with
no surge in positive cases recently would be included under the orange zone. Only
restricted activities such as limited public transport and farm product harvesting is
expected to be allowed in coronavirus orange zone. The districts with no coronavirus
positive cases would fall under the green zone.
MHA has also stated clearly that no state/UT can stop the movement of cargo for cross
land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries apart. All goods traffic
is additionally to be permitted by states. Movement of people for non-essential
activities will remain suspended in all zones from 7 pm to 7 am, the order adds. The
MHA has also said that persons above 65 years of age, children, pregnant women and
other people with co-morbidities must stay home throughout the duration of this
lockdown 3.0.
The MHA’s order said that the Aarogya Setu App is a must for residents of containment zones. It also says that no more than 20 people will be allowed to attend a funeral or last rite of a person. For weddings, the order says that no more than 50 people will be allowed to attend a marriage ceremony. It has also allowed liquor shops and paan shops in green zones to reopen. The movement of house servant in green zones has also been permitted. In addition, private companies have also been allowed to resume
work but with 33 per cent of their strength within the workplace.
According to the MHA’s order on Friday, some activities will remain prohibited despite
the classification of red, orange and green zones. These include travel by air, rail, metro
and inter-state movement by road. Schools, colleges, training/coaching centres and
other educational institutions also will remain closed. Hotels, restaurants, cinema halls,
malls and gyms also will continue to remain closed apart from places of worship.
All the new rules of the third lockdown under different zones:
Red Zone: Certain activities have been allowed in Red Zones which are outside of
containment zones.
1. Movement of people or vehicles is only allowed in red zones for permitted
activities.
2. Two people have been allowed per four-wheeler (including driver) and one
person (no pillion riding) per two-wheeler.
3. All agriculture activities in rural areas have also been exempted from the
extended lockdown along with all shops, animal husbandry activities.
4. Plying of taxis, and cabs apart from cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws will not
be permitted in red zones apart from barbershops, spas and salons.
Orange Zone: The government has allowed certain activities in orange zones, apart
from the ones permitted in red zones.
1. Taxis and cab aggregators will be allowed to operate only with one driver and
two passengers per car in orange zones.
2. The inter-district movement of individuals in orange zones will also be allowed
for permitted activities.
3. Four-wheelers will be allowed to ply on roads with a maximum of two
passengers along with pillion riding on two-wheelers, the MHA’s order said.
Green Zone: E-commerce has also been allowed to resume operations and deliver
non-essential goods in green zones.
1. SEZ and export-oriented units along with industrial estates and industrial
townships with access control have also been permitted to get back to work.
2. While inter-state and intra-state movement will still be restricted,
buses are allowed to work in green zones only with 50 per cent of their capacity.
The same rule is going to be applicable to bus depots.
While states like Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa,
Lakshadweep, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim having zero red or orange
zones, Delhi is still under full lockdown. With a total of 321 districts being declared as
green zones it can be said that half the country is already corona free.
People should know that even though their districts have been declared green zones,
they should follow the rules of the lockdown and only go out for only essential
activities. Just like a person who recently suffered from a cold is still asked to avoid
cold drinks and ice-creams for some days, in the same way the green zones should
wait to enjoy until the country is fully corona free because one wrong step may worsen
the situation.
At the same time, we should not forget to thank the corona warriors for it is because of them that the situation is improving. On 3rd May 2020, the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force also paid homage to these warriors. The event started on Sunday morning
with a wreath-laying at the Police Memorial on behalf of all three Service Chiefs, who paid respects for the sacrifice by police and paramilitary forces. Military
bands everywhere in the country visited various civil hospitals treating corona patients to express their gratitude by playing patriotic tunes. In the evening hours, Naval ships at sea on the coasts of Mumbai, Porbandar, Karwar, Vizag, Chennai, Kochi
and Port Blair lit up and fired flares in solidarity with the efforts of our corona warriors. “During the current crisis, it’s the doctors, nurses, policemen, media, sanitation workers, delivery personnel, bank employees, government employees and local store owners who have put their lives on the line to make sure that we as a nation are protected and cared for adequately,” said Army PRO Colonel Aman Anand. It was so beautiful to see one force thanking the other.
Once the pandemic is over, we’ll think about these things and feel proud that when
the world was losing the battle against the pandemic Indian warriors worked day night
and eradicated the virus and saved the country and we, the citizens, helped the
warriors by staying at home. Till then, let’s follow the rules, stay at home stay at home,spend time watching TV, watch the nature heal and save the world.