Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hinted at another extension of lockdown in Covid-19 hotspots after May 3 during his virtual meet with chief ministers. The PM also lauded the efforts made by states across India to contain the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic while asking them to prepare a lockdown exit policy.
In a review meeting with chief ministers over lockdown extension on Monday, the Prime Minister said collective efforts of states have helped to manage the present crisis and added that thousands of lives have been saved due to steps taken by state governments in the past one and a half months.
“We saw a two-stage lockdown, with strict measures in the first phase and then some relaxations in the second. Good work has been done in the states,” PM Modi told the CMs.
The PM said: “Efforts of states should now be directed towards converting the red zones into orange and thereafter to green zones. We have to be brave and bring in reforms that touch the lives of common citizens.”
During his meeting via video conferencing on Monday, Prime Minister Modi told the CMs that a policy needs to be drawn to exit the lockdown. PM Modi asked the states to prepare state-wise exit policy in view of their red, orange and green zones.
PM Modi also forewarned that the danger is far from over and constant vigilance is required. “Impact of Covid-19 will remain visible in coming months, masks and face covers will be part of life,” PM Modi told the CMs.
PM Modi said importance has to be given to the economy as well. He also emphasised on the importance of usage of technology as much as possible and also to utilise time to embrace reform measures.
The CMs met the PM to discuss the situation arising due to Covid-19 in the country, which is under a 50-day lockdown since March 25 to contain the pandemic.
Monday’s meeting was Modi’s fourth such interaction with state chief ministers since March 22 when he first spoke to them on the coronavirus situation.
The chief ministers who attended the meeting included Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), E K Palaniswami (Tamil Nadu), Conard Sangma (Meghalaya) Trivendram Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand) and Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh). Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and top officials from the PMO and Union Health Ministry were also present at the virtual meet.
Sources in the government had on Sunday indicated that besides discussing the way forward in dealing with the pandemic, the prime ministers and chief ministers could also focus on a “graded” exit from the lockdown.
