Home ministry announces new set of relaxations amid lockdown; know what can open, what can't

The Union Home Ministry on Friday put out a new set of relaxations, authorising opening of neighbourhood and standalone shops, inclusive of those located in residential complexes.

The order comes as a great relief for small-scale traders and businessman after a month of the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, the home ministry, stated that the new set of relaxations will not be applicable to hotspots or containment zone.

As stated by the order, the neighbourhood shops, salons and tailors can reopen from 25th April. But malls, cinemas and market complexes will remain shut in order to prevent any unexpected situation because of large gatherings.

With this, the Centre has also ended the essential and non-essential goods classification, at least for the brick and mortar stores, as the restrictions on non-essential items will carry on for e-commerce.

According to government sources, the states can form independent guidelines to keep firm restrictions, but not tone down the order to give more relaxations. The Assam government was the first to decide not to enforce the order for now, and stated it will decide by Monday.

Here’s what will open from today:

1) All shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective state and Union territory, including those in residential complexes and market complexes, outside the municipal corporations and municipalities, have been exempted from lockdown restrictions.

2) Only standalone shops and residential shops can open in cities.

3) All shops in residential areas and neighbourhood markets will open.

4) All shops and markets in rural and semi-rural areas that are registered can open.

5) Salons and barbershops can reopen but not if they are inside a market complex.

6) Standalone tailor shops in residential complexes can open.

7) Shops in registered markets outside municipal corporations and municipalities can open only with 50% staff, who will have to wear masks and follow social distancing norms.

8) Non-essential goods and services will be allowed to operate in urban areas only if they are in residential areas or is a standalone shop.

9) Market complexes, except those within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, can open.

Here's what will remain closed:

1) Malls and cinemas will remain shut.

2) Complexes with clusters of shops cannot open.

3) Shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities are not exempted by the new order.

4) Shopping complexes, shops in market complexes, multi-brand and single-brand malls cannot open.

5) Liquor shops will remain shut.

6) Boutiques inside malls cannot open.

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