We are on the Thirty First Day of the Nationwide Lockdown due to the Coronavirus Outbreak. We have nine more days to go to complete the Lockdown. With no dip in the number of cases, the big question is if India can really afford to relax the Lockdown.
After giving some relaxations to non-hotspot areas from the 21st of this month, the Central Government had given some more today. Home Ministry has clarified to states that in-house caregivers of senior citizens, prepaid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas are exempted from lockdown restrictions
There are speculations if the Central Government may permit everything except for the mass gatherings and Public Transport in non-hotspot areas after May 3rd. The complete Lockdown may be continued in the Hotspot areas. Inter-state and inter-district travel may also be banned.
Lockdown is burdening the Government Exchequers to a large extent. Several states are deferring the salaries to the employees. Now, the Union Finance Ministry froze the increment on dearness allowance, dearness relief for central government employees and pensioners. Given the precarious economic situation, the Lockdown may be eased.
