Coronavirus: Narendra Modi to address nation at 10 am tomorrow
Amid a lot of noise surrounding India's lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tomorrow at 10 am where he will most likely announce that the restrictions will be extended. This will be his fourth address to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic. India's three-week lockdown was supposed to end on April 14. Here's everything you need to know.
CMs want extension; PM isn't averse to idea either
Last week, PM Modi held a video conference with thirteen Chief Ministers to take a stock of the situation, and most of them suggested that the lockdown must be extended. Before the call, he also spoke to politicians of all parties where he stressed that curbs can't be lifted on April 14. He underlined that coronavirus has changed the world as we know it.
A two-week extension is expected
Reports suggest that the lockdown will be extended for two weeks. However, this time the government could give certain relaxations to agriculture and industries to kick-start the slowing economy. To recall, the last time PM Modi addressed the nation, he had asked the countrymen to light a diya/candle or flash mobile phones/torches to express solidarity in the fight against coronavirus.
Some states didn't wait for Centre's announcement
While the Centre is yet to announce its decision, states like Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Karnataka, have already extended the lockdown. The first state to do so was Odisha whose Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik advised the Centre against taking a risk by diluting restrictions. Meanwhile, Karnataka's CM BS Yediyurappa said the second lockdown will come with a set of relaxations.
India's lockdown is the largest in the world
India's lockdown is unprecedented in many ways. No country, as densely populated as ours, has brought everything to a halt like this. Railways, airlines, local transport have been shut entirely to ensure people stay indoors and effectively help in breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission. Most offices have allowed employees to work from home. Only essential services like hospitals, police, fire services, are functional.
India's migrant workers were hit the hardest
The curbs, however, had a catastrophic effect on daily wage workers, who were rendered jobless after companies were shut. Faced with an uncertain future, the migrant workers started walking towards their homes, which in some cases was 1,000 km away. As unhappy scenes from their exodus dominated media, Centre asked states to arrange accommodation and food for them while ensuring that they stay put.
Poor got some relief, industries batting for financial package
To provide some relief, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs. 1.7 lakh crore package for the poor. And a similar package to revive growth in the coronavirus-stung economy is expected. Reports suggested last week that Centre could set up a fund with a corpus of Rs. 50,000- 75,000 crore to help industries. This aid could be announced after the lockdown is extended.
