#Durg Police Activity

[nidarchhattisgarh]

आरक्षक उपेंद्र कुमार तिवारी का ऑनलाइन सट्टे की डील करते वीडियो वायरल हो रहा है जिसमे सट्टे का पैनल चलाने और लेनदेन की बात सामने आ रही है, एसपी पल्लव ने किया सस्पेंड

आरक्षक उपेंद्र कुमार तिवारी का ऑनलाइन सट्टे की डील करते वीडियो वायरल हो रहा है जिसमे सट्टे का पैनल चलाने और लेनदेन की बात सामने आ रही है, एसपी पल्लव ने किया सस्पेंड Nidar Chhattisgarh Bhilai :- भिलाई। दैनिक भास्कर के पोर्टल में पब्लिश खबर के मुताबिक दुर्ग जिले के के वैशाली नगर थाने में पदस्थ आरक्षक उपेंद्र कुमार तिवारी का एक वीडियो इन दिनों सोशल मीडिया जमकर वायरल हो रहा है, जिसमें वह ऑनलाइन सट्टा…

[tyagi1999]

Chhattisgarh News: October 16, 2023

Chhattisgarh Government to Launch New Skill Development Program

The Chhattisgarh government is planning to launch a new skill development program in order to train young people and make them employable. The new program will focus on training young people in skills that are in demand in the job market.

The Chhattisgarh government has identified a number of skills that will be taught under the new program. These include computer skills, communication skills, and soft skills. The program will also focus on training young people in specific trades and industries.

The new skill development program is aimed at helping young people to find jobs and improve their quality of life. The state government has allocated Rs. 100 crore for the program in the current financial year.

Chhattisgarh Government Launches Scheme to Provide Free Sanitary Pads to Women

The Chhattisgarh government has launched a new scheme to provide free sanitary pads to women from poor families. Under the scheme, women will get a packet of sanitary pads for free every month.

The scheme is aimed at improving the menstrual hygiene of women from poor families. The state government has allocated Rs. 50 crore for the scheme in the current financial year.

Chhattisgarh Police Arrest Gang Involved in Human Trafficking

The Chhattisgarh police have arrested a gang involved in human trafficking in Durg district. The gang was arrested after the police received intelligence about their activities.

The gang was trafficking young women from poor families to other states for prostitution. The police have rescued a number of women from the gang and have arrested several members of the gang.

The arrest of the gang is a major success for the Chhattisgarh police in their fight against human trafficking.

Conclusion

These are some of the latest news stories from Chhattisgarh. The state government is taking a number of steps to improve the lives of its citizens. These include improving access to education, healthcare, and financial assistance. The state government is also taking steps to promote skill development, menstrual hygiene, and combat human trafficking.

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Coronavirus Outbreak Highlights: Haryana to impose 12-hour curfew between 7 pm and 7 am from Monday; state has reported 442 cases

23:55 (IST)

Coronavirus in Assam latest updates

Barber shops, saloons to remain closed in Assam

Barber shops, saloons and parlours shall continue to remain closed in Assam, ANI quotes state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as saying. He added that home visits of barber would be allowed after following hygiene and sanitisation norms.

23:47 (IST)

Coronavirus in Chhattisgarh latest updates

14 migrant workers recently returned to Chhattisgarh test positive, count touches 57

Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 count touched 57 on Sunday after 14 migrant labourers, including two women, tested positive in Durg and Kabirdham districts. State Health Minister T S Singh Deo said that eight cases were detected in Durg, while the rest six in Kabirdham. He added that all of them are labourers, who had recently returned to the state from different parts of the country.

  Chhattisgarh COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 57, new cases 14, deaths nil, discharged 36, active cases 21, people tested so far 19,902

  23:44 (IST)

Coronavirus in Chandigarh latest updates

Shops in Chandigarh to open on odd-even basis from 4 May

All neighbourhood shops in Chandigarh will remain open from 10 am to 6 pm on an odd-even basis from Sunday, the Union Territory administration has said.  However, malls, market complexes and big shops will remain closed. All shops in internal sector markets will remain open on an odd-even basis -- even numbered shops will open on 4 May and those with odd number on 5 May. "There will be strict emphasis on implementation of social distancing norms and other precautions. Milk, vegetables, fruits and chemists are exempted from these timings," an order issued by the Chandigarh administration said.

23:31 (IST)

Coronavirus in Karnataka latest updates

No pass required for travel within Bengaluru between 7 am and 7 pm

"From tomorrow you don’t need a pass to move in Bangalore between 7am and 7 pm. After 7 pm and upto 7 am the following morning, even if you have a pass you are not allowed to move except medical and essential service. Checkpoints will remain and your ID may be asked. Please be responsible," tweeted Bhaskar Rao, Commisioner of Police, Bengaluru City

  23:24 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates

138 fresh cases, seven fatalities reported in Pune district

  Pune district in Maharashtra has reported 138 new coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking its overall COVID-19 count to 2,050, a Health official said on Sunday. The death toll has mounted to 111 with seven more people succumbing to theviral infection on Saturday, he said. "Of the 138 new cases, 109 are from the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporationwhich now has 1,813 patients. Of the rest 29 cases, six are from Pimpri Chinchwad while 23 are from rural and Cantonment areas," he said. The total number of cases in Pimpri Chinchwad now stands at 121 and in rural and cantonment areas at 116, he added.

  PTI

23:19 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates

100 persons allowed to travel from Maharashtra to native states

About 100 people, mostly migrant workers, from suburban Dahisar and south Mumbai, were on Sunday permitted to travel to their native states Rajasthan

and Gujarat in five buses, PTI quotes a police officer as saying. More than 70 people from Dahisar will travel in four buses hired by them to the two states for which passes have been issued to them, he said.

  "The permission was given after following the set procedure in such cases. The buses and passengers were sanitised," said Dahisar police station senior inspector Mohammed Mujawar. He said three buses will travel to Rajasthan and another to Gujarat.

  23:06 (IST)

Coronavirus in Tripura latest updates

Twelve more BSF personnel test positive in Tripura

12 more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested coronavirus positive in Tripura, reports ANI. Total number of positive cases in BSF stands at 54 now including 14 in Tripura.

23:03 (IST)

Coronavirus in Haryana latest updates

Haryana to impose 12-hr curfew between 7 pm and 7 am from Monday

Curfew will be imposed in Haryana from 7 pm to 7 am with effect from May 4, state Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora said on Sunday.Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora gave directions regarding lockdown 3.0 to all the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and other senior officers during a meeting, a release said.She made it clear to the officers concerned that their districts will be reviewed every week by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

"And if it is found that guidelines are not being followed in an area and is declared as red zone, all supplies except the supply of essential goods will be restricted and all permissions (pertaining to relaxations) will cease with immediate effect," she added. Arora also directed the officers concerned to ensure that the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs are followed at all times while starting the industrial units. Haryana has a total of 442 coronavirus cases with five COVID19-related deaths.

PTI

22:50 (IST)

Coronavirus in Ladakh latest updates

Twenty people test positive in Ladakh in two days, Leh district designated as red zone

  Twenty people have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh over the past two days, taking the total tally of cases reported in the Union Territory to 42, PTI quotes officials as saying. Among the new cases, 18 have been reported from Leh, 16 of which are from the Chuchot Yokma area, which has already been declared a containment zone. One case is from Zangsti area of Leh city detected through Aarogya Setu app, District Magistrate Leh Sachin Kumar Vaishya said. With the jump in the number of positive cases, Vaishya said Leh district has been designated as Red zone and therefore restrictions announced by the Home Ministry would be followed rigorously.

  Two other COVID-19 cases were reported from Kargil district on Saturday and Sunday. They include a 52-year-old woman, a resident of Kaksar village, who had gone on pilgrimage to Iran. She was evacuated from Iran and kept in quarantine for over a month in Rajasthan before being airlifted to her hometown last week. The woman was admitted to a hospital after her COVID-19 test report came positive, officials said. 

    22:43 (IST)

Coronavirus in Rajasthan latest updates

Rajasthan govt issues guidelines to be followed during lockdown

The Rajasthan government on Sunday said that face masks need to be worn compulsorily in all work places or public spaces and stated that no shop should sell to a person found without a mask. It also banned the sale of gutka, paan and tobacco in the state and ordered that no person should spit in public places. Further, the order instructed that no marriage related function should be held without informing the sub-divisional magistrate and that no more than 50 persons can attend such a ceremony. It also stipulated that no more than 20 persons could attend last rites and said that social distancing should be followed at all times. Lastly, it said that consumption of liquor was prohibited in public places. 

Rajasthan Government has issued a notification stating regulations to be observed by the persons to prevent the outbreak of the #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/3umxWDTnT5

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

22:34 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh latest updates

Section 144 extended in Gautam Buddh Nagar till May 17

  The Gautam Buddh Nagar police has extended the restrictions imposed in the district under CrPC section 144 by another two weeks in view of the nationwide lockdown that is slated to continue till 17 May, PTI quotes officials as saying. Gatherings like political, social or religious congregations, protest rallies and sports events will remain banned across Noida and Greater Noida during the lockdown period, the officials said. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) bars assembly of four or more people.​ “During the period, political, religious or social, cultural gatherings will not be allowed, and protest rallies etc will remain banned. All places of worship will remain closed. People will not be allowed to gather outdoors on streets or in lanes and a two-yard distance should be maintained by those out,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Ashutosh Dwivedi said. said in a statement.

  “No organization/manager will be allowed to call a meeting of five or more than five people. Not more than 50 people will be allowed during wedding events, and not more than 20 at funerals during the lockdown period and social distancing has to be followed even during these events,” the officer said. Strict action will be taken against anyone who violates the restriction orders under the Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the order stated.

22:19 (IST)

Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh latest updates

Madhya Pradesh now has 2,837 confirmed cases

Madhya Pradesh reported 49 positive  cases and six deaths on Sunday, taking the state total to 2,837, according to a bulletin released by the state health department. Of these, 1568 cases have been reported in Indore and 532 in Bhopal. 156 persons have died in the state so far while 798 have recovered.

22:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates

Officer at Dharavi Fire Station in Mumbai tests positive

One Officer of Dharavi Fire Station has tested positive for COVID-19, reports ANI quoting a senior fire brigade official. As per protocol, all precautions are being taken, says PS Rahangdale,Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade.

22:07 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi latest updates

Number of containment zones in Delhi comes down to 94

Two more areas- Bengali Market and parts of Kailash Hills were de-contained in Delhi today. Seven zones have been de-contained so far; there are 94 total containment zones now, ANI quotes the Delhi health department as saying.

  22:03 (IST)

Coronavirus in Telangana latest updates

Total in Telangana reaches 508

  21 Coronavirus positive cases were reported in Telangana today, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department. With this, the total number of active cases mounts to 508 in the state. Death toll stands at 29. Total 545 patients have been cured/discharged till date.

21:57 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi latest updates

Delhi records highest single-day spike in cases

Delhi records highest single-day spike with 427 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to  4,549. No deaths were reported on Sunday.

21:48 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra  latest updates

Maharashtra count nears 13,000

678 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in Maharashtra , taking the state tally to 12,974. 27 people died of the disease, taking the death count to 548, according ot a bulletin issued by the state health department. 115 persons were discharged following their ecovery, taking the total number of recovered persons int he state to 2,115. Mumbai has reported the highest number of cases (8,800) and 343 deaths.

21:36 (IST)

Coronavirus in West Bengal latest updates

Two more fatalities take COVID-19 toll to 50 in West Bengal

West Bengal reported two more COVID-19 fatalities, raising the death toll due to the disease to 50 in the state, PTI quotes officials as saying. A total of 41 fresh COVID-19 cases have emerged in West Bengal, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department. Till Sunday afternoon, there were 927 coronavirus cases in the state, it said. The Union health ministry, however, has put the figure at 922.The number of active cases in the state stood at 663, the bulletin said.

  The officer-in-charge of the Pragati Maidan police station in the eastern parts of Kolkata and a senior state government official have tested positive for the disease and have been admitted to a private hospital, officials said. A total of 22,915 samples have been tested for the novel coronavirus in West Bengal so far, they added. 

21:29 (IST)

Coronavirus in India latest updates

No new cases reported in Jharkhand today

No positive coronavrirus case was reported in Jharkhand till 8 pm on Sunday, according to the state health department. The total number of positive cases stands at 115. Total 27 patients have recovered/cured till date,

#IndiaFightsCorona : 20 Central Public Health Teams from @MoHFW_INDIA have been formed and are being sent to the 20 districts that are reporting maximum number of #COVID19 cases in the country The teams will support states in fighting #COVID19 📒 https://t.co/UbNSx4QsGT pic.twitter.com/XIUyA9tEgU

— MIB India 🇮🇳 #StayHome #StaySafe (@MIB_India) May 3, 2020

21:25 (IST)

Coronavirus in India latest updates

Centre sends teams to 20 districts with high case load

  Government deploys central teams in 20 districts with heavy case load of COVID-19 to help states in implementation of containment measures, reports PTI.

#IndiaFightsCorona : 20 Central Public Health Teams from @MoHFW_INDIA have been formed and are being sent to the 20 districts that are reporting maximum number of #COVID19 cases in the country The teams will support states in fighting #COVID19 📒 https://t.co/UbNSx4QsGT pic.twitter.com/XIUyA9tEgU

— MIB India 🇮🇳 #StayHome #StaySafe (@MIB_India) May 3, 2020

21:23 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh latest updates

Count in Uttar Pradesh rises to 2,645 as 158 more test positive

  The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 2,645 with 158 more people testing positive for the infection on Sunday, PTI quotes officials as saying. The virus has claimed 43 lives in the state so far. "The state has reported a total number of 2,645 coronavirus cases till now, of which 754 have recovered while 43 died. There are 1,848 active cases now," an official release issued said. Coronavirus cases have so far been reported from 64 of the 75 districts in the state. Six among these 64 districts have no active case at present. 

21:10 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates

'Shramik' train headed to Lucknow leaves from Nagpur

Maharashtra: A 'shramik special train' carrying 977 people, mainly migrant workers, leaves Nagpur for Lucknow in Lucknow. #lockdown pic.twitter.com/MjbBaf7F1P

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

20:53 (IST)

Texas starts human testing of tuberculosis vaccine to fight COVID-19

Researchers in the US' Texas A&M University are asking hundreds of frontline medical workers to participate in a late-stage, phase 4, clinical trial of a widely-used tuberculosis vaccine that could help boost the immune system and blunt the devastating effects of COVID-19 .

PTI

20:50 (IST)

Coronavirus in Tripura latest updates

Tripura doctor develops PPE face shield costing only Rs 40

A doctor from Tripura has developed a PPE face shield costing only Rs 40, to protect frontline medical personnel from contracting COVID-19 while treating patients.

A face shield is a protective gear with a transparent visor attached to a headband. It protects the wearer from coming in contact with respiratory droplets through which, according to the World Health Organisation, the novel coronavirus spreads.

Dr Arkadipta Choudhury, an assistant professor at the Tripura Medical College (TMC), said that he developed the face shield, 'Stopdrop', using readily available inexpensive materials.

With the coronavirus outbreak affecting delivery of products, Dr Choudhury made the face shield using compressed polyester, inexpensive straps and visors.

PTI

20:48 (IST)

Coronavirus in Odisha Latest Updates

Bhubaneswar, three other districts classified as red zones in Odisha

In Odisha, Bhubaneswar and three other districts, Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur have been categorised as red zones. In the state, 16 districts are in green zone and 11 districts are in orange zone.

20:36 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Centre asks states to prepare second line of defence with home guards, NCC cadets 

Concerned over scores of frontline security personnel catching the COVID-19 disease, the Centre has suggested to states to prepare an effective second line of defence by deploying home guards, civil defence and NCC cadets among others wherever feasible to contain the spread of the deadly virus, reports PTI.

  In a communication to all states and UTs, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the police chiefs may consider the option of 'work from home' for personnel not deployed on the frontline, and wherever possible. The home ministry said police authorities should strictly apply self-quarantine rules to its members, when needed, as per the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry.

.

In view of increasing number of police and security personnel getting infected, it is considered expedient to issue the guidelines to reiterate the precautions and measures to be taken, it said. The home ministry said police authorities may take necessary precautions to sanitise the physical environment at the place of duty of police and security personnel. Police or security personnel may be advised to keep themselves safe by practicing proper hygiene and physical distancing, it advised. Police authorities should also take care of safety and hygiene of its personnel by providing all necessary materials like hand sanitizers, soaps, masks, face shield, gloves, safe food, etc. and also train the personnel in their proper usage and disposal, the ministry said.

  It said home guards, civil defence, NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides and Student Police Cadets may be utilised in areas where there are not imminent law and order issues.

    20:24 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Cases in Mumbai up by 441 to 8,613, 21 more succumb to COVID-19

  Mumbai reports 441 fresh infections,  21 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 8,613 and deaths to 343. Total 1804 patients discharged till date, ANI quotes the Public Health Department of Mumbai as saying.

441 new #COVID19 cases & 21 deaths have been reported in Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 8613 & deaths to 343. Total 1804 patients discharged till today: Public Health Department, Mumbai. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/SVF3mjYHgN

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

20:15 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Gujarat reports highest single-day spike in deaths

  Gujarat on Sunday reported 374 new COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths, which is the highest single-day increase in deaths so far, a Health department official said. With this, the overall number of the coronavirus positive cases mounted to 5,428 and the death toll to 290. At 274, Ahmedabad accounted for the highest number of the new cases, followed by Surat and Vadodara at 25 each. 146 patients were discharged, taking the total number of recovered patients in the state to 1,042.

  PTI

20:05 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

MHA issues clarification on order allowing movement on migrant labourers, students

It is clarified that order regarding movement of persons amid lockdown is not extended to those categories of persons who are otherwise residing normally at places other than native places for purposes of work etc and those who wish to visit their native place in normal course, ANI quotes the ministry of home affairs as saying.

It is clarified that order regarding movement of persons amid lockdown is not extended to those categories of persons who're otherwise residing normally at places other than native places for purposes of work etc.&those who wish to visit their native place in normal course: MHA pic.twitter.com/GY9Z2AVHt4

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

20:01 (IST)

Coronavirus in Chhattisgrah Latest Updates

Chhattisgarh govt offices in non-hotspot zones to reopen from Monday

The state government offices in Chhattisgarh will reopen from Monday, except those located in the COVID-19 containment zones, PTI quotes officials as saying.The offices in containment zones- areas under Katghora municipal council in Korba district and Jajawal village in Surjapur district- will continue to remain shut in view of COVID-19 cases in those areas

    19:56 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates

94 new cases found in Dharavi, two more succumb to disease

As many as 94 new COVID-19 cases and 2 deaths were reported in Dharavi today, pushing the total number of positive cases in the slum areas to 590, and toll to 20, ANI quotes the BMC as saying.

19:45 (IST)

Coronavirus in Haryana Latest Updates

Count in Haryana touches 442

  Number of COVID-19 positive cases reaches 442 in Haryana, including 245 discharges  and five deaths. Number of active cases stands at 192, ANI quotes the state health department as saying.

Number of #COVID19 positive cases reaches 442 in Haryana including 245 discharges & five deaths. Number of active cases stands at 192: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/4u5EGGasOI

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

19:33 (IST)

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Cases in Tamil Nadu jump by 266 to 3,023

Tamil Nadu reports one COVID-19 death, 266 fresh infections, pushing total number of coronavirus cases to 3,023, according to the state health department.

19:27 (IST)

Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates

All districts of Kashmir, three districts of Jammu declared as red zones

  The Jammu and Kashmir government released a classification of districts into red, orange and green zones. All districts of Kashmir province and Jammu , Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu have been designated as red zones while Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban and Rajouri have been classified as orange zones. the districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch fall under the Green Zone category.

Red, Orange and Green districts categorized by J&K government as on date: Department of Information and Public Relations, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/E1PFX28Nae

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

19:21 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates

Eight more test psoitive in Gautam Buddh Nagar, total rises to 167

Eight more people, including two women, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Sunday, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases in the district to 167, officials said. On the brighter side, seven patients were discharged from hospitals following their treatment for COVID-19 and the number of cured people crossed the 100-mark, the officials said.

  "Total 129 reports have been received in the last 24 hours. Eight of them positive and the rest were negative for COVID-19. The cumulative positive cases of coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar are now 167," District Surveillance Officer Sunil Dohare said. Among the new patients are a 20-year-old woman from Sector 8, 40-year-old woman from Sector 30, 50-year-old man from Sector 10, 31-year-old man from Nithari village in Sector 31 and two men, aged 31 and 38, from Mamura village — all six in Noida, he said. A 24-year-old man from Dadri and a 43-year-old man from Greater Noida also tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, the officer said.

  "So far, 101 of the 167 patients have been cured and discharged, leaving 66 active cases in the district," he said. The recovery rate of patients is 60.47 per cent, as per the official statistics

19:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in Punjab Latest Updates

With 331 fresh infections, Punjab's count surges to 1,102

Punjab reports 331 new cases, pushing total number of cases over 1,100, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. Out of the total cases,  117 have been cured while 21 others succumbed to the infection and the number of active cases stands at 964. According to a report in The Tribune, Amritsar registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases for second day in a row---the district recoded 75 infections in a span of 24 hours, taking the district tally to 218.

  19:05 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Maximum 50 people allowed at weddings, 20 for last rites, says Arvind Kejriwal

To maintain the norms of social distancing, not more than 50 people are allowed at wedding functions and not more than 20 at last rites of a deceased person, ANI quotes Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as saying.

18:55 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

25 more BSF personnel test positive for COVID-19

The number of COVID-19 cases shot up in the Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday, with 25 more personnel testing positive for the disease, taking the tally in the force to 42, PTI quotes an official as saying. The new cases were reported from a unit of the 126th battalion of the force, deployed in the Jama Masjid and Chandni Mahal areas of the national capital on law-and-order duties under the command of the Delhi Police.

  "A total of 25 troops from this unit deployed in Delhi tested positive for the disease on Sunday. Six from the unit had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday," a spokesperson of the border-guarding force said. So far, 42 BSF personnel have been found infected with the coronavirus infection, including some cases from a unit hospital in Delhi's R K Puram and two in Tripura, the spokesperson said.

18:46 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Four categories of high-risk persons should remain at home, says Kejriwal

  "Will suggest Centre to declare only containment areas in the city as red zone and not the entire district," said Delhi chief minsiter Arvind Kejriwal. He said that high risk persons- pregnant women, those above the age of 65 and below the age of 19, those with other diseases - shall remian at home. Significantly, he saidthat self employed persons including domestic workers, technicians and others will be allowed to work, he said.

18:34 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in India surge to 40,623, toll climbs to 1,306

Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 40,263 including 28,070 active cases, 10,887 cured/discharged/migrated and 1,306 deaths, according to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry.

18:27 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Delivery of essential goods through e-commerce portals will continue: Kejriwal

During a live webcast address, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said the delivery of essential goods through e-commerce portals will continue. Malls, gyms, sports complexes, cinemas, salons, market complexes, Delhi Metro will remain shut while shops selling essentials will continue to be open, he said. Air travel, and bus services within Dehi and to other states as well as all educational institutes in the National Capital will remain closed. Social, religious gathering will cotinue to be banned and all religious places of worship shall also remain closed. The chief minister also clarified that hospitality services as well as barber shops and saloons will remain closed. No one will be allowed to step out of their houses between 7 am and 7pm, except for emergency reasons, he said.

18:22 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Delhi govt will implement all relaxations prescribed by Centre, says Arvind Kejriwal

Althought the lockdown has been extended in Delhi for two weeks, the Delhi government will implement all lockdown relaxations prescribed by the Union home ministry, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal  Kejriwal further said that  government offices engaged in essential services will function with full strength while private office will operate with 33 percent strength, reported India Today.

  18:16 (IST)

Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates

With 35 new cases, count in Jammu and Kashmir climbs to 701

Jammu and Kashmir saw an increase of 35 new cases, pushing the state total to 701. While 34 of the new cases were reported from Kashmir division, one was found in the Jammu division. 287 persons have recovered while eight have died due to the disease till date, taking the number of active cases to 406, said the media bulletin issued by the UT.

35 new positive cases have been reported in last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir; 1 from Jammu division and 34 from Kashmir division. Total number of active cases in the state stands at 406: Department of information and public relation J&K pic.twitter.com/lMq1o1J25o

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

18:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Updates

Karnataka reports 13 new cases, total rises to 614

13 new coronavirus cases were reported in Karnataka in the last 24 hours, said a bulletin released by the state health department. Total number of cases in the state stands at 614, including 25 deaths and 293 discharges, it said. The highest number of cases (149) and deaths (six) have been reported from the Bengaluru Urban district.

  Karnataka #Covid19 Update:13 new Covid positive cases reported today, taking the total to 614 including 25 deaths and 293 discharges. pic.twitter.com/N86n5IBeJU

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 3, 2020

18:01 (IST)

Coronavirus in Bihar Latest Updates

Bihar reports four more cases, total rises to 485

  Four more persons tested positive  for COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in Bihar to 485,  PTI quotes a top Health department official as saying. Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar said the four fresh COVID-19 cases were reported from Katihar (1), Buxar (2) and Kaimur (1) districts. In Katihar district, a 30-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19. In Buxar district, a 22-year-old man and a one-and- half-year-old girl tested positive for coronavirus while in Kaimur district a 45-year-old man turned out to be COVID-19 positive. The number of COVID-19 active cases in the state now stands at 364 as 117 people have recovered and four have died due to the disease.

  17:54 (IST)

Coronavirus in Odisha Latest Updates

Odisha's total rises to 162 after five more test positive

 Five more persons, including two returnees each from Surat and Kolkata, tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Sunday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 162, PTI quotes officials as saying. The five fresh cases were reported from Ganjam (two), Jharsuguda (one), Balasore (one) and Keonjhar (one) districts, the Information and Public Relations department said.

  The latest COVID-19 case was reported from Hatadihi in Keonjhar district of a 30-year-old man, who had recently returned from Kolkata and was asymptomatic of the disease. He was kept in quarantine in view of his travel history, an official said, adding that the mineral-rich Keonjhar district now has two coronavirus patients. Similarly, a 34-year-old man from Balasore district with a travel history to Kolkata also tested positive for COVID-19. With this, the total number of coronavirus patients in Balasore increased to 21. Ganjam district, which had so far been a green zone, reported its first COVID-19 cases after two migrant workers (males aged 17 and 22 years), who returned from Gujarat recently, were diagnosed with the disease.

    17:48 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Commercial flights at Delhi airport to operate only from Terminal three after lockdown ends

  Commercial passenger flights at Delhi airport will initially operate from Terminal 3 after the lockdown ends,aid a senior official of its operator DIAL on Sunday, adding that entry gates, self check-in machines and check-in bays will be allocated to airlines to avoid overcrowding by air travellers. The airport will keep all food, beverage and retail shops open to avoid overcrowding at one place and use "ultraviolet disinfection tunnels" for all incoming baggage, according to a plan prepared by the GMR group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd.

  The plan said the passengers of Vistara and IndiGo would enter the airport through gates 1 and 2 only. These two airlines will have check-in rows A, B and C among them, it said. AirAsia India and Air India passengers will use entry gates 3 and 4. These passengers will then go to rows D, E and F where the staff of these two airlines would assist them check-in, according to the plan. SpiceJet and GoAir passengers would enter through gate 5 towards the staff of these two airlines at rows G and H for check-in.

  PTI

17:37 (IST)

Coronavirus in Goa Latest Updates

OPDs in Goa to operate with 50% staffing from Wednesday, says state health minister

All out-patient departments in  hospitals in Goa, including the nodal GMCH, will be allowed to function from Wednesday with 50 percent staff, reports PTI. We may open all OPDs, including GMC, with 50 percent load factor from Wednesday. Protective gears and N95 masks to be provided to the doctors conducting OPDs," state health minister Vishwajit Rane said in a noting moved to the health department

17:31 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

 HRD Ministry to announce fresh dates for JEE, NEET on 5 May

In a relief for engineering and medical aspirants, the HRD ministry on Sunday said fresh dates for competitive exams — JEE and NEET—will be announced on 5 May, reports PTI. The exams were postponed due to nationwide lockdown announced to contain the COVID-19 spread. "The fresh dates will be announced by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on May 5. This will put an end to uncertainty for the aspirants. The minister will also interact with students online the same day," a senior ministry official said.

  While Joint Entrance Exam-Mains (JEE-MAINS) is conducted for admission to engineering colleges across the country, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted for medical colleges. 

17:25 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttarakhand Latest Updates

Case count in Uttarakhand reaches 60 as one more tests positive

Oe more person tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of coronavirus patients in the state to 60. Of these, 39 have been cured and discharged while one person has died and the number of patients currently under treatment is 20, according to the 5pm bulletin issued by the state health department.

One more person has tested positive for #Coronavirus in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of cases to 60 in the state: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/As7OQVnIWt

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Curfew will be imposed in Haryana from 7 pm to 7 am with effect from May 4, state Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora said on Sunday.

12 more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested coronavirus positive in Tripura. Total number of positive cases in BSF stands at 54 now including 14 in Tripura.

Madhya Pradesh reported 49 positive  and six deaths on Sunday, taking the state total to 2,837, according to a bulletin released by the state health department.

 678 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in Maharashtra , taking the state tally to 12,974. 27 people died of the disease, taking the death count to 548, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department.

Government deploys central teams in 20 districts with heavy case load of COVID-19 to help states in implementation of containment measures.

Mumbai reports 441 fresh infections,  21 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 8,613 and deaths to 343. Total 1804 patients discharged till date, said the Public Health Department of Mumbai.

Gujarat on Sunday reported 374 new COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths, which is the highest single-day increase in deaths so far, a Health department official said.

 Tamil Nadu reports one COVID-19 death, 266 fresh infections, pushing total number of coronavirus cases to 3,023, according to the state health department.

Punjab reports 331 new cases, pushing total number of cases over 1,100, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. Out of the total cases,  117 have been cured while 21 others succumbed to the infection and the number of active cases stands at 964.

Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 40,263 including 28,070 active cases, 10,887 cured/discharged/migrated and 1,306 deaths, according to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry.

All out-patient departments in  hospitals in Goa, including the nodal GMCH, will be allowed to function from Wednesday with 50 percent staff from Wednesday.

No new infections have been found in Kerala in on Sunday. Meanwhile, one more person has been cured of the disease taking the number of recoveries to 401. The number of active cases in the state now stands at 95.

 17 more people from a building in Delhi's Kapashera have tested positive for COVID-19. Total 58 positive cases have been reported from the building till date.The building was sealed on 19 April after a person was found to be coronavirus positive, ANI quotes the Office of DM Delhi South-West as saying.

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren announced that lockdown will continue in Jharkhand till 17 May and the relaxations prescribed by the Centre won't be implemented in the state.

 The Maharashtra government has decided to allow standalone shops including liquor shops to open in Red Zones, including in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune Metropolitan Region. However, these shops wont be permitted to function in areas marked as containment zones.

One more person tested positive for COVID-19 at AIIMS, Rishikesh on Sunday, officials said. This is the sixth case of coronavirus at the hospital in the last nine days.

The latest case is that of a 29-year-old nursing officer at the facility, nodal officer for coronavirus cases at the hospital Madhur Uniyal said.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Haryana climbed to 421 on Sunday, said the state health department. The figure includes 174 active cases.

So far, the state has registered five deaths while, the COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 57.5 percent with 242 patients being dicharged.

Of the 130 Sikh pilgrims who returned from Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Sunday to Punjab, 63 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Nawanshahr, said Vinay Bulani, Deputy Commissioner.

Over 10,000 COVID-19 patients were discharged across the nation on Sunday, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. "Those still admitted at hospitals are on the road to recovery," he said.

The health minister also claimed that India's mortality rate was the lowest across the world at 3.2 percent.

The current doubling rate for COVID-19 cases has improved to 12 days as against 10.5 days in the last two weeks, while the mortality rate has been recorded at 3.2 percent, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

After a staff of one of the top officers of CRPF tested positive for coronavirus, the CRPF headquarters in Delhi was sealed for sanitisation till further orders.

The number of coronavirus cases rose to 360 in Maharashtra's Nashik district after 27 more people tested positive for the viral disease, the district administration said on Sunday.

With this, 324 COVID-19 cases have so far been reported from Malegaon town, 16 from Nashik city and 17 from other parts of the district.

In the past 24 hours, 2,644 new COVID-19 positive cases and 83 more deaths were registered across the nation, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Confirmed cases climbed to 39,980 with 28,046 active cases. The COVID-19 recovery rate was at 26.6 percent after 10,633 patients were cured.

India recorded 39,980 COVID-19 positive cases after 2,644 more tested positive in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data released by the health ministry on Sunday.

After 83 more succumbed to the viral infection as of Sunday, the toll climbed to 1,301.

With 31 more individuals testing COVID-19 positive in Rajasthan, the total confirmed cases in the state climbed to 2,803 on Sunday till 9 am, said Health Department, Rajasthan.

Karnataka government charged an exorbitant price of Rs 1,300 from migrant workers for a Rs 300 bus ticket, according to media reports. The measure was taken as the buses would be plying at half capacity to ensure social distancing.

Speaking to The News Minute, a KSRTC official said, "The prices are three times higher because the buses are taking only 30 people even though there are 55 seats. We are charging the minimum fare of Rs 39 per kilometre and we are also counting the fare for the return trip the bus has to take to come back to Bengaluru."

After the issuance of Ministry of Home Affairs order on reopening of districts from 4 May, the Tripura government on Saturday said that there will be no prohibition in the functioning of government offices in green and orange zones. All categories of employees will work from office.

"A separate order will be issued for functioning of schools, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions," read the state government's order.

The MHA has categorised six districts of Tripura as green zones and two districts as orange zones.

Nearly 500 Delhi students stranded at coaching hub Kota in Rajasthan during the lockdown reached Kashmere Gate ISBT in Delhi in 40 buses early Sunday morning.

Delhi's Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the students would be sent to their homes from Kashmere Gate ISBT after medical tests.

Two more test positive in Ganjam dist taking confirmed cases in Odisha to 159 Odisha registered 159 COVID-19 cases on Sunday after two more individuals tested positive for the viral disease, according to the latest data released by the state health ministry. Both the cases were reported in Ganjam district.

The total number of districts affected by the novel coronavirus climbed to 16 in the state.

India on Saturday registered a record jump of 2,411 new coronavirus cases and  71 deaths, taking the total number of infections in the country to 37,776 and the toll to 1,223.

Meanwhile, migrant workers stranded in different states since the imposition of the lockdown began their journey homes in special 'shramik trains'.

Case count surges to 37,776, toll reaches 1,223

According to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry, the number of infections in the country jumped to 37,776 while the toll rose to 1,223. Over 10,000 persons have been cured of the disease and the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 26,535, it said.

Of the total fatalities, the highest have been reported in Maharashtra (485), followed by Gujarat (236), Madhya Pradesh (145) , Rajasthan (62) and Delhi (61).

Maharashtra continues to have the highest number of infections with 11,506 cases reported from the state. Gujarat has reported a total of 4,721 cases, followed by Delhi (3,738), Madhya Pradesh (2,719) and Rajasthan (2,666).

According to the Uttar Pradesh health department, 127 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in the state on Saturday, pushing the number of confirmed cases to 2,455. Forty-three deaths have so far been reported and 656 patients treated and discharged from hospitals. So far, COVID-19 cases have been reported in 64 of the 75 districts in the state, officials said.

In Delhi, 68 more personnel attached to a CRPF battalion tested positive for the novel coronavirus, taking the total number of those afflicted in the battalion to 122. A total of 127 CRPF personnel have so far contracted the disease, including one death and one recovery, ANI quoted the CRPF as saying.

In Maharashtra, as many as 56 persons were discharged from a civic-run hospital in Thane's Mira Bhayander area at the same time, including a three-year-old girl and three septuagenarians.

Meanwhile, 20 visitors to the Gurdwara Langar Sahib in Nanded tested positive for the disease. The gurdwara had been shut on Friday after several pilgrims from Punjab, who returned to their state after visiting this shrine, tested coronavirus positive, officials had said.

On Saturday, Kerala, too, reported two positive cases — one from Wayanad and one from Kannur — taking the total number of cases in the state to 499. With Wayanad reporting a positive case after a month, the district was moved from the green to the orange zone, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Barber shops, home delivery of non-essential items allowed in green and orange zones, clarifies MHA

A day after issuing fresh guidelines for the lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that barber shops and salons will be allowed to open in green and orange zones during the third phase of the lockdown beginning 4 May, besides sale of non-essential items by e-commerce platforms.

However, barber shops, saloons will continue to be prohibited in red zones and  e-commerce companies are allowed to sell only essential commodities in such areas, said the ministry.

The MHA on Friday, while extending the lockdown for two more weeks till 17 May, had lifted many restrictions in green and orange zones.

Sale of liquor is allowed in non containment areas of green, orange and red zones through stand alone shops and not in malls or shopping complexes, it further clarified.

In liquor shops, customers will have to maintain minimum six feet distance from each other, and also ensure that not more than five persons are present at one time at the shop.

On allowing domestic maids to work in red zones, a home ministry official said the RWAs should take a call  regarding allowing the movement of outsiders. But health protocols have to be maintained by domestic helps as well as employers, and the responsibility lies with the person who employs maids in case of any mishaps.

According to the home ministry, travel by road (inter-state), rail and air and metro are banned across the country during the lockdown.

The home ministry, however, may give permission in special cases depending on the urgency.

According to ANI, the ministry added that in orange zones, inter-district  and intra-district plying of buses remains prohibited. Taxis and cab aggregators are allowed to ply, with a restriction of two passengers apart from the driver in each vehicle only.  Inter-district movement of private cars in such zones is allowed only for permitted activities, with maximum two passengers, besides the driver.

In orange zones, inter-district movement of individuals and vehicles is allowed, only for permitted activities, with maximum two passengers, besides the driver, in four-wheelers: Ministry of Home Affairs. #lockdownextension https://t.co/mjIqgu2kJV

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020

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MMR, Pune 'no-go', says Maharashtra govt

Based on the orders issued by the Centre, states also issued guideline for the third phase on the nationwide lockdown. The Maharashtra government said that in the cities with police commissionerates, a concerned deputy commissioner of police (DCP) will have the power to allow inter-state or inter-district journey. But the movement of people will not be allowed between the areas under Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and other parts of the state during lockdown, it said.

The Karnataka government, too issued revised guidelines which will come into force from 4 May.

Karnataka Government issues revised guidelines on #lockdown measures which will come into effect from May 4 for two weeks in the state. pic.twitter.com/mDdZgytuaX

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020

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Meanwhile, the Delhi government launched an exercise to open liquor shops in the National Capital in accordance with the latest guidelines issued by the home ministry.

The excise department has directed four government-run agencies, which are responsible to sell liquor in the city, to identify such outlets which fulfil all conditions prescribed by the  MHA.

DCGA extends suspension of flights till 17 May

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)  issued a circular to extend the suspension of domestic and international commercial flight operations till 17 May. However, the restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.

Migrant workers head back in 'shramik trains'

The first 'Shramik Special' train carrying 1,187 stranded migrant labourers from Jaipur reached the Danapur railway station in Patna on Saturday afternoon.

Another special train train carrying over 300 stranded labourers from Nashik in Maharashtra reached Misrod Station on the outskirts of Bhopal.

"We have started screening these passengers brought here from Nashik in the special train. After that, they will be sent to their respective towns in different buses," a district administration officer told PTI.

This is the first special train which reached Bhopal after the Centre's announcement to run such services to facilitate the stranded labourers and workers.

A special train with 847 migrants also departed for Lucknow from Nashik in around 10 am on Saturday, said the Central Railway. Similar 'Shramik trains' are also set to provide connectivity between states such as Gujarat and Uttra Pradesh, Kerala and Jharkhand, among others.

Gujarat: A special train carrying migrant workers left from Sabarmati in Ahmedabad for Agra in Uttar Pradesh, amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/DBjPVWwXqV

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020

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However, the problems faced by migrant workers continued to make it to the headlines with a migrant worker cycling from his workplace in Delhi to home in Bihar dying in UP's Saharanpur.

Dharamveer, along with a few other labourers, had started their journey from Delhi to Khagaria district in Bihar on bicycles on 28 April, PTI quotes police as saying.

"On Friday night, they halted on the Delhi-Lucknow highway in Shahjahanpur. When the condition of Dharamveer deteriorated, the labourers took him to the medical college where he was declared brought dead," said Circle Officer (city) Praveen Kumar.

In another case, 18 people, including 14 migrant labourers, were found to be travelling inside a cement mixer from Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh. "During the routine check-up at Panth Piplai village, about 35 kilometres from Indore, we stopped a truck laden with a cement-mixer on suspicion. After opening the lid, we found 18 people inside," Traffic Police sub-inspector Amit Kumar Yadav told PTI.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for sending "guest workers" in the state to their home states by road or rail. The state government appointed nodal officers in charge of workers for different states and said the the prior approval of recipient states was necessary for sending back the stranded workers.

Modi holds review meeting on agricultural reforms, MSMEs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  deliberated on ways to reform the agriculture sector with emphasis on agriculture marketing, access of farmers to institutional credit and freeing the sector of various restrictions with appropriate backing of laws.

The government has maintained that the country's farm sector is functioning smoothly despite the COVID-19 lockdown and there will not be much impact on its growth in the current fiscal, unlike other sectors.

The pros and cons of bio-technological developments in crops or enhancement of productivity and reduction in input costs was also deliberated, an official statement said.

Concessional credit flow to strengthen agriculture infrastructure, special Kisan Credit Card saturation drive for PM-Kisan beneficiaries and facilitating inter and intra-state trade of agriculture produce to ensure fairest return to farmers were some of the other important areas covered, the statement said.

Developing eNAM or the National Agriculture Market into a "platform of platforms" to enable e-commerce was one of the important topics of discussion on Saturday.

The prime minister also held a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen the MSME sector.

Chaired a meeting on strengthening our MSME sector, which plays a pivotal role in economic development. There were extensive discussions on ways to make this sector more vibrant, attractive and ready to embrace new opportunities. pic.twitter.com/b3o9MMZWZj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 2, 2020

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With inputs from agencies

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[dailymagazinblog]

Rajnadgaon (Chhattisgarh) [India], Dec 24 (ANI): The Chhattisgarh Police arrested the Naxal National Coordinator NV Rao here on Sunday. Inspector General of Police GP Singh informed that Rao was in possession of 23 detonators, 1 mobile phone and Naxal literature. The arrested Naxalite was working as a senior technical officer in the Central Government National Geophysical Research Institute in Hyderabad and is an explosive expert. "Naxal National Coordinator NV Rao has been arrested in Rajnandgaon. 23 detonators, one mobile phone and Naxal literature was seized. He allegedly used his position as Senior Technical Officer in National Geophysical Research Institute to supply arms to naxals," stated Singh in a press conference held at Durg Range Office. Rao, a resident of Andhra Pradesh was arrested from Chabukkunni area of the Rajanandgaon district. During the interrogation, Rao revealed that he worked in the Naxalites' urban network and had come to deliver a detonator to a Deepak Teltemde, who was supposed to carry out a major operation in Rajnandgaon district. He also stated that Maoists were receiving help through the urban network from the Naxalites who have already surrendered. It was also divulged that the Naxalite participated in the different movements across the country including the Kisan movement, the Narmada Bachao Andolan, the Dalit movement, the Mandla-Chutka nuclear project protest movement, the Elgaar Council (Bhima Koregaon), the protest movement against the SEZ, protest against the displacement. He was also actively working to flare as well as stabilise these movements. It was also know that Rao's wife Hemlalita is an advocate in Andhra Pradesh and runs an NGO. His younger brother is also highly influenced by the Maoist ideology and is the General Secretary of Civil Liberties Committee. The wireless phone seized from Rao was allegedly given to him by his brother. Being a responsible officer in the important venture of the central government, without any scope of doubt, he has been camouflage while misusing his position, status and helping the Maoists get ammunition and logistics help. (ANI)

https://www.aninews.in/news/naxal-national-coordinator-nv-rao-arrested201812240406250001/

[wionews]

A different Gandhian legacy: Shankar Guha Niyogi

October 2nd calls for the usual reflections on Mahatma Gandhi and his legacy. But in times when the remembrance of Gandhi has become largely ritualistic and empty of meaning, and our path diverges even more from his vision of a just, non-violent economy, it is worth remembering another person, Shankar Guha Niyogi,  who embodied Gandhi’s spirit, even though he was a Marxist himself. 

Last week marked the 26th death anniversary of Shankar Guha Niyogi. On September 28, 1991, Niyogi, leader of the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (CMM) and the Chhatisgarh Mines Shramik Sangh (CMSS) was shot dead in his sleep. With the recent assassination of Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru, the public discourse around political assassinations has once again come alive. And the spate of recent murders, including those of Govind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi, and Narendra Dabholkar clearly shows the threat that such committed vernacular intellectuals and activists pose to those who want to forcibly impose their own idea of India on everyone else. Remembering Niyogi then also serves to remember our long history of assassinations.

It is worth remembering another person, Shankar Guha Niyogi,  who embodied Gandhi’s spirit, even though he was a Marxist himself. 

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Coming from a working-class background, Niyogi moved from his native Bengal to work in the Bhilai Steel Plant in the late 1960s, but his union organising activities soon got him fired. After spending a few years working underground, organising Adivasis, and traveling all over the state of Chhattisgarh, Niyogi finally made the Bhilai region his home. He led the mine workers and other industrial workers of the Bhilai region for nearly 14 years until his death at the age of 48. In the process, he along with the workers built a unique trade union movement that went far beyond the usual scope of union politics. 

While it was widely suspected that some major industrialists of Bhilai were behind his murder, the case resulted in only one conviction, that of the hired assassin. And this too fourteen years after the murder, in 2005. Those behind the murder got away.

Ramchandra Guha once remarked that every thinking Indian had a Gandhian and a Marxist inside, struggling for supremacy. This certainly seems true of Shankar Guha Niyogi. Niyogi did not describe himself as a Gandhian, and remained close to communist politics all his life. But his practice reveals a creative mind at work that Gandhi would have been proud of. Satyagraha and Sarvodaya found their echoes in Niyogi’s 'sangharsh' and 'nirman', the struggle for the creation and the creation for struggle, as he called it.

Satyagraha and Sarvodaya found their echoes in Niyogi’s 'sangharsh' and 'nirman', the struggle for the creation and the creation for struggle, as he called it.

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Even as he fought for the mine workers’ rights, wages, working conditions, and other bread-and-butter trade union issues, Niyogi wrote with great feeling about the degradation and despoilation of the air, the water and the forests in the mining areas. Under his leadership, the CMM and the CMSS treated environmental issues as central to their programme and not as an afterthought. The rights of forest dwellers over their own produce, for example, formed an important part of the movement. This is an early example of what later came to be called a “red-green” movement. 

Niyogi embraced the ethos of Sunderlal Bahuguna’s Chipko movement and called it a 'revolutionary movement'. He invoked the spirit of the American Indians in his writings on the environment. CMSS also supported the movement against the Narmada dams and showed the hypocrisy of officials who treated Adivasis as the principal threat to forest ecosystems while selling the forest to saw-mill owners. The union fought against monoculture planting of Eucalyptus and Pine trees for wood, and for the conservation of biodiversity. 

Let us take a moment here to realise the significance of an environmental conservation movement that is not based on the urban upper-middle class but, rather, operates with workers, peasants, and Adivasis, who constitute the majority of society.

The movement was born from the recognition that the communities which lived close to nature could be trusted to use it sustainably and had a lot to teach everyone on sustainable use. A centrepiece of the struggle was the 'Know Your Jungle' campaign that was built on the understanding that intimacy with the forest created a love for it. This type of thinking is what we find in Gandhi and in other creative Gandhians, such as J.C. Kumarappa, who were proponents of the local economy. 

India’s modern environmental movement owes a lot to Gandhi, and Niyogi is a prominent thinker in this tradition.

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India’s modern environmental movement owes a lot to Gandhi, and Niyogi is a prominent thinker in this tradition. But Niyogi combines it very effectively with a consciousness of the environment born out of daily struggles of not only Adivasis and peasants but also industrial workers.

Environmental, social, and economic concerns are thoroughly interwoven in Gandhi and so they were in Niyogi also. A particularly novel idea one finds in Niyogi’s writing is that of an 'environment station' (pariyavaran thana). “Just as there are police stations (thanas) everywhere, there should be ‘environment stations,’ he wrote. These would employ local people who are well-versed about the local ecology and its problems. Thus, in one go, such a step helps in creating employment as well as a new consciousness about nature. Sadly, this idea has received hardly any attention, even in social movements.

The Chhattisgarh movement took an all-round approach to workers’ lives, intervening as frequently in areas of health, education, alcoholism, and gambling as in areas of regularisation of contract labour and minimum wages. For example, Shaheed Hospital set up by the CMSS still operates in the region and the noted activist Dr. Binayak Sen, who came to Chhattisgarh inspired by Niyogi, used to practice there. And it is worth noting, at the time when the contract labour system has become the norm across all industries, one of Niyogi’s key struggles was against the contract labour system in the industrial plants of Durg-Bhilai. 

Another, particularly interesting aspect of the CMM was its engagement with local history. For example, the celebration of local martyrs whom the predominantly Adivasi workforce could relate to and, thereby, find their own histories of struggle. Tribal freedom fighters, such as Vir Nayaran Singh who was executed by the British in 1857 became focal points of the new struggle.

The demand for preferential employment to people from the Lohar community in the steel plant is an excellent example of thinking that updates Gandhian ideas.

  ×

The charter of demands from a large peasant-workers rally from October 1980 illustrates the innovative thinking behind the CMM. These included diversion of waters going to Bhilai Steel Plant to farmers during the drought year, higher prices of output for farmers and lower prices for consumers, a halt to mechanisation of iron ore mines, jute mills and cotton mills of the area, construction of small dams and repair of ponds, making local languages, such as Gondi and Chhatisgahi the medium of instruction in primary schools, a ban on commercial sawmills in the vicinity of forests, preferential employment for people from the Lohar (ironsmith) community in the Bhilai Steel Plant, expansion of cottage and handicraft industries, and one Industrial Training Institute in each kasbah.

Notice how a Gandhian spirit suffuses many of the demands; preference to farmers over the industry, fight against mechanisation intended purely for profit, appropriate technology such as small dams, emphasis on local languages, and support for handicraft industries. The demand for preferential employment to people from the Lohar community in the steel plant is an excellent example of thinking that updates Gandhian ideas. In it is the recognition, that was Gandhi’s main insight, that India’s artisanal communities have nurtured a vast store of useful knowledge that can be harnessed for everyone’s welfare.

All this is not to say that Niyogi was a 'Gandhian'. Indeed, like most creative thinkers he easily transcended such labels.

  ×

All this is not to say that Niyogi was a 'Gandhian'. Indeed, like most creative thinkers he easily transcended such labels, taking whatever was useful from wherever he could and discarding the rest. The point is to remember a committed, patriotic Indian who lived Gandhi’s spirit and tried to create a new vision for India. Even now, in the new neoliberal India, most of what Niyogi fought for remains relevant, perhaps is even more relevant. Ever faster rates of economic growth are creating an increasing rate of stress on our natural ecosystem. To make matters worse, the fruits of this destructive growth are very unevenly distributed. A dangerous cocktail of jobless growth and degrading ecosystems brews in our society.

While the immediate reasons for his assassination may have been different from those of Gauri Lankesh, Kalburgi, Pansare, Dabholkar, or even Gandhi, all these murders demonstrate the danger that dedicated, committed individuals who speak, write and act truth to power in the languages of the common people pose to our ever more entrenched power structures. It is imperative that their memories be kept alive. 

Given Shankar Guha Niyogi’s stature and influence (hundreds and thousands of workers struck work and showed up at his funeral), it is noteworthy that there is not a single authoritative book from a major publishing house on his life and work. Some of his writings and essay on him are available here. And Ilina Sen’s memoir, Inside Chhattisgarh, talks about the activities of CMM and CMSS. An account of his life and work is highly desirable in these times.

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[nidarchhattisgarh]

Durg Crime News : दुर्ग भिलाई में सालों से नशीले पदार्थों की तस्करी, 216 पुड़िया ब्राउन शुगर के साथ दो गिरफ्तार : महाराष्ट्र से लाते हैं माल

Durg Crime News : दुर्ग भिलाई में सालों से नशीले पदार्थों की तस्करी, 216 पुड़िया ब्राउन शुगर के साथ दो गिरफ्तार : महाराष्ट्र से लाते हैं माल Nidar Chhattisgarh :- दुर्ग। मोहन नगर पुलिस ने भारी मात्रा में दो आरोपियों को ब्राउन शुगर के साथ गिरफ्तार किया है। लंबे अरसे से दोनों आरोपी मादक पदार्थ की तस्करी में शामिल थे। ये लोग ब्राउन शुगर को दुर्ग और भिलाई में ग्राहकों को सप्लाई करने का काम करते थे।…

[nidarchhattisgarh]

पुलिस विभाग में बंपर तबादले, एक साथ 161 पुलिसकर्मियों को किया गया इधर से उधर, यहां जानें किसे-कहां मिली पोस्टिंग

NCG NEWS DESK कोरबा: छत्तीसगढ़ के कोरबा पुलिस में एक बार फिर बड़ा फेरबदल हुआ है। यहां एक साथ 161 पुलिसकर्मियों को इधर से उधर किया गया है। इनमें 41 प्रधान आरक्षक व 120 आरक्षक शामिल है। इस संबंध में जिले के एसपी यू उदय किरण ने आदेश जारी कर दिया है। देखें पूरी लिस्ट-

[nidarchhattisgarh]

सोशल मीडिया में मुख्यमंत्री भूपेश बघेल की मां पर आपत्तिजनक टिप्पणी करने वाला 1 गिरफ्तार, बाकी फरार

भिलाई। दुर्ग के तमेर पारा निवासी एक व्यक्ति ने वाट्सएप ग्रुप पर छत्तीसगढ़ के मुख्यमंत्री भूपेश बघेल की स्वर्गीय मां को लेकर गालियां एवं आपत्तिजनक बातें लिखकर पोस्ट की हैं। जिसकी शिकायत भिलाई निगम के पार्षद व जोन अध्यक्ष रामानंद मौर्या ने वैशाली नगर थाना में की है। जिसके आधार पर पुलिस ने वैशाली नगर पुलिस ने आरोपित के खिलाफ भावनाओं को आहत करने, इंटरनेट मीडिया पर आपत्तिजनक बातों का प्रचार करने और…

[brajeshupadhyay]

23:55 (IST) Coronavirus in Assam latest updates Barber shops, saloons to remain closed in Assam Barber shops, saloons and parlours shall continue to remain closed in Assam, ANI quotes state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as saying. He added that home visits of barber would be allowed after following hygiene and sanitisation norms. 23:47 (IST) Coronavirus in Chhattisgarh latest updates 14 migrant workers recently returned to Chhattisgarh test positive, count touches 57 Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 count touched 57 on Sunday after 14 migrant labourers, including two women, tested positive in Durg and Kabirdham districts. State Health Minister T S Singh Deo said that eight cases were detected in Durg, while the rest six in Kabirdham. He added that all of them are labourers, who had recently returned to the state from different parts of the country.   Chhattisgarh COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 57, new cases 14, deaths nil, discharged 36, active cases 21, people tested so far 19,902   23:44 (IST) Coronavirus in Chandigarh latest updates Shops in Chandigarh to open on odd-even basis from 4 May All neighbourhood shops in Chandigarh will remain open from 10 am to 6 pm on an odd-even basis from Sunday, the Union Territory administration has said.  However, malls, market complexes and big shops will remain closed. All shops in internal sector markets will remain open on an odd-even basis -- even numbered shops will open on 4 May and those with odd number on 5 May. "There will be strict emphasis on implementation of social distancing norms and other precautions. Milk, vegetables, fruits and chemists are exempted from these timings," an order issued by the Chandigarh administration said. 23:31 (IST) Coronavirus in Karnataka latest updates No pass required for travel within Bengaluru between 7 am and 7 pm "From tomorrow you don’t need a pass to move in Bangalore between 7am and 7 pm. After 7 pm and upto 7 am the following morning, even if you have a pass you are not allowed to move except medical and essential service. Checkpoints will remain and your ID may be asked. Please be responsible," tweeted Bhaskar Rao, Commisioner of Police, Bengaluru City   23:24 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates 138 fresh cases, seven fatalities reported in Pune district   Pune district in Maharashtra has reported 138 new coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking its overall COVID-19 count to 2,050, a Health official said on Sunday. The death toll has mounted to 111 with seven more people succumbing to theviral infection on Saturday, he said. "Of the 138 new cases, 109 are from the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporationwhich now has 1,813 patients. Of the rest 29 cases, six are from Pimpri Chinchwad while 23 are from rural and Cantonment areas," he said. The total number of cases in Pimpri Chinchwad now stands at 121 and in rural and cantonment areas at 116, he added.   PTI 23:19 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates 100 persons allowed to travel from Maharashtra to native states About 100 people, mostly migrant workers, from suburban Dahisar and south Mumbai, were on Sunday permitted to travel to their native states Rajasthan and Gujarat in five buses, PTI quotes a police officer as saying. More than 70 people from Dahisar will travel in four buses hired by them to the two states for which passes have been issued to them, he said.   "The permission was given after following the set procedure in such cases. The buses and passengers were sanitised," said Dahisar police station senior inspector Mohammed Mujawar. He said three buses will travel to Rajasthan and another to Gujarat.   23:06 (IST) Coronavirus in Tripura latest updates Twelve more BSF personnel test positive in Tripura 12 more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested coronavirus positive in Tripura, reports ANI. Total number of positive cases in BSF stands at 54 now including 14 in Tripura. 23:03 (IST) Coronavirus in Haryana latest updates Haryana to impose 12-hr curfew between 7 pm and 7 am from Monday Curfew will be imposed in Haryana from 7 pm to 7 am with effect from May 4, state Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora said on Sunday.Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora gave directions regarding lockdown 3.0 to all the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and other senior officers during a meeting, a release said.She made it clear to the officers concerned that their districts will be reviewed every week by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. "And if it is found that guidelines are not being followed in an area and is declared as red zone, all supplies except the supply of essential goods will be restricted and all permissions (pertaining to relaxations) will cease with immediate effect," she added. Arora also directed the officers concerned to ensure that the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs are followed at all times while starting the industrial units. Haryana has a total of 442 coronavirus cases with five COVID19-related deaths. PTI 22:50 (IST) Coronavirus in Ladakh latest updates Twenty people test positive in Ladakh in two days, Leh district designated as red zone   Twenty people have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh over the past two days, taking the total tally of cases reported in the Union Territory to 42, PTI quotes officials as saying. Among the new cases, 18 have been reported from Leh, 16 of which are from the Chuchot Yokma area, which has already been declared a containment zone. One case is from Zangsti area of Leh city detected through Aarogya Setu app, District Magistrate Leh Sachin Kumar Vaishya said. With the jump in the number of positive cases, Vaishya said Leh district has been designated as Red zone and therefore restrictions announced by the Home Ministry would be followed rigorously.   Two other COVID-19 cases were reported from Kargil district on Saturday and Sunday. They include a 52-year-old woman, a resident of Kaksar village, who had gone on pilgrimage to Iran. She was evacuated from Iran and kept in quarantine for over a month in Rajasthan before being airlifted to her hometown last week. The woman was admitted to a hospital after her COVID-19 test report came positive, officials said.      22:43 (IST) Coronavirus in Rajasthan latest updates Rajasthan govt issues guidelines to be followed during lockdown The Rajasthan government on Sunday said that face masks need to be worn compulsorily in all work places or public spaces and stated that no shop should sell to a person found without a mask. It also banned the sale of gutka, paan and tobacco in the state and ordered that no person should spit in public places. Further, the order instructed that no marriage related function should be held without informing the sub-divisional magistrate and that no more than 50 persons can attend such a ceremony. It also stipulated that no more than 20 persons could attend last rites and said that social distancing should be followed at all times. Lastly, it said that consumption of liquor was prohibited in public places.  Rajasthan Government has issued a notification stating regulations to be observed by the persons to prevent the outbreak of the #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/3umxWDTnT5 — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 22:34 (IST) Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh latest updates Section 144 extended in Gautam Buddh Nagar till May 17   The Gautam Buddh Nagar police has extended the restrictions imposed in the district under CrPC section 144 by another two weeks in view of the nationwide lockdown that is slated to continue till 17 May, PTI quotes officials as saying. Gatherings like political, social or religious congregations, protest rallies and sports events will remain banned across Noida and Greater Noida during the lockdown period, the officials said. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) bars assembly of four or more people.​ “During the period, political, religious or social, cultural gatherings will not be allowed, and protest rallies etc will remain banned. All places of worship will remain closed. People will not be allowed to gather outdoors on streets or in lanes and a two-yard distance should be maintained by those out,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Ashutosh Dwivedi said. said in a statement.   “No organization/manager will be allowed to call a meeting of five or more than five people. Not more than 50 people will be allowed during wedding events, and not more than 20 at funerals during the lockdown period and social distancing has to be followed even during these events,” the officer said. Strict action will be taken against anyone who violates the restriction orders under the Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the order stated. 22:19 (IST) Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh latest updates Madhya Pradesh now has 2,837 confirmed cases Madhya Pradesh reported 49 positive  cases and six deaths on Sunday, taking the state total to 2,837, according to a bulletin released by the state health department. Of these, 1568 cases have been reported in Indore and 532 in Bhopal. 156 persons have died in the state so far while 798 have recovered. 22:11 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates Officer at Dharavi Fire Station in Mumbai tests positive One Officer of Dharavi Fire Station has tested positive for COVID-19, reports ANI quoting a senior fire brigade official. As per protocol, all precautions are being taken, says PS Rahangdale,Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade. 22:07 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi latest updates Number of containment zones in Delhi comes down to 94 Two more areas- Bengali Market and parts of Kailash Hills were de-contained in Delhi today. Seven zones have been de-contained so far; there are 94 total containment zones now, ANI quotes the Delhi health department as saying.   22:03 (IST) Coronavirus in Telangana latest updates Total in Telangana reaches 508   21 Coronavirus positive cases were reported in Telangana today, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department. With this, the total number of active cases mounts to 508 in the state. Death toll stands at 29. Total 545 patients have been cured/discharged till date. 21:57 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi latest updates Delhi records highest single-day spike in cases Delhi records highest single-day spike with 427 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to  4,549. No deaths were reported on Sunday. 21:48 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra  latest updates Maharashtra count nears 13,000 678 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in Maharashtra , taking the state tally to 12,974. 27 people died of the disease, taking the death count to 548, according ot a bulletin issued by the state health department. 115 persons were discharged following their ecovery, taking the total number of recovered persons int he state to 2,115. Mumbai has reported the highest number of cases (8,800) and 343 deaths. 21:36 (IST) Coronavirus in West Bengal latest updates Two more fatalities take COVID-19 toll to 50 in West Bengal West Bengal reported two more COVID-19 fatalities, raising the death toll due to the disease to 50 in the state, PTI quotes officials as saying. A total of 41 fresh COVID-19 cases have emerged in West Bengal, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department. Till Sunday afternoon, there were 927 coronavirus cases in the state, it said. The Union health ministry, however, has put the figure at 922.The number of active cases in the state stood at 663, the bulletin said.   The officer-in-charge of the Pragati Maidan police station in the eastern parts of Kolkata and a senior state government official have tested positive for the disease and have been admitted to a private hospital, officials said. A total of 22,915 samples have been tested for the novel coronavirus in West Bengal so far, they added.  21:29 (IST) Coronavirus in India latest updates No new cases reported in Jharkhand today No positive coronavrirus case was reported in Jharkhand till 8 pm on Sunday, according to the state health department. The total number of positive cases stands at 115. Total 27 patients have recovered/cured till date, #IndiaFightsCorona : 20 Central Public Health Teams from @MoHFW_INDIA have been formed and are being sent to the 20 districts that are reporting maximum number of #COVID19 cases in the country The teams will support states in fighting #COVID19 📒 https://t.co/UbNSx4QsGT pic.twitter.com/XIUyA9tEgU — MIB India 🇮🇳 #StayHome #StaySafe (@MIB_India) May 3, 2020 21:25 (IST) Coronavirus in India latest updates Centre sends teams to 20 districts with high case load   Government deploys central teams in 20 districts with heavy case load of COVID-19 to help states in implementation of containment measures, reports PTI. #IndiaFightsCorona : 20 Central Public Health Teams from @MoHFW_INDIA have been formed and are being sent to the 20 districts that are reporting maximum number of #COVID19 cases in the country The teams will support states in fighting #COVID19 📒 https://t.co/UbNSx4QsGT pic.twitter.com/XIUyA9tEgU — MIB India 🇮🇳 #StayHome #StaySafe (@MIB_India) May 3, 2020 21:23 (IST) Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh latest updates Count in Uttar Pradesh rises to 2,645 as 158 more test positive   The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 2,645 with 158 more people testing positive for the infection on Sunday, PTI quotes officials as saying. The virus has claimed 43 lives in the state so far. "The state has reported a total number of 2,645 coronavirus cases till now, of which 754 have recovered while 43 died. There are 1,848 active cases now," an official release issued said. Coronavirus cases have so far been reported from 64 of the 75 districts in the state. Six among these 64 districts have no active case at present.  21:10 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra latest updates 'Shramik' train headed to Lucknow leaves from Nagpur Maharashtra: A 'shramik special train' carrying 977 people, mainly migrant workers, leaves Nagpur for Lucknow in Lucknow. #lockdown pic.twitter.com/MjbBaf7F1P — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 20:53 (IST) Texas starts human testing of tuberculosis vaccine to fight COVID-19 Researchers in the US' Texas A&M University are asking hundreds of frontline medical workers to participate in a late-stage, phase 4, clinical trial of a widely-used tuberculosis vaccine that could help boost the immune system and blunt the devastating effects of COVID-19 . PTI 20:50 (IST) Coronavirus in Tripura latest updates Tripura doctor develops PPE face shield costing only Rs 40 A doctor from Tripura has developed a PPE face shield costing only Rs 40, to protect frontline medical personnel from contracting COVID-19 while treating patients. A face shield is a protective gear with a transparent visor attached to a headband. It protects the wearer from coming in contact with respiratory droplets through which, according to the World Health Organisation, the novel coronavirus spreads. Dr Arkadipta Choudhury, an assistant professor at the Tripura Medical College (TMC), said that he developed the face shield, 'Stopdrop', using readily available inexpensive materials. With the coronavirus outbreak affecting delivery of products, Dr Choudhury made the face shield using compressed polyester, inexpensive straps and visors. PTI 20:48 (IST) Coronavirus in Odisha Latest Updates Bhubaneswar, three other districts classified as red zones in Odisha In Odisha, Bhubaneswar and three other districts, Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur have been categorised as red zones. In the state, 16 districts are in green zone and 11 districts are in orange zone. 20:36 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates Centre asks states to prepare second line of defence with home guards, NCC cadets  Concerned over scores of frontline security personnel catching the COVID-19 disease, the Centre has suggested to states to prepare an effective second line of defence by deploying home guards, civil defence and NCC cadets among others wherever feasible to contain the spread of the deadly virus, reports PTI.   In a communication to all states and UTs, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the police chiefs may consider the option of 'work from home' for personnel not deployed on the frontline, and wherever possible. The home ministry said police authorities should strictly apply self-quarantine rules to its members, when needed, as per the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. . In view of increasing number of police and security personnel getting infected, it is considered expedient to issue the guidelines to reiterate the precautions and measures to be taken, it said. The home ministry said police authorities may take necessary precautions to sanitise the physical environment at the place of duty of police and security personnel. Police or security personnel may be advised to keep themselves safe by practicing proper hygiene and physical distancing, it advised. Police authorities should also take care of safety and hygiene of its personnel by providing all necessary materials like hand sanitizers, soaps, masks, face shield, gloves, safe food, etc. and also train the personnel in their proper usage and disposal, the ministry said.   It said home guards, civil defence, NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides and Student Police Cadets may be utilised in areas where there are not imminent law and order issues.     20:24 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates Cases in Mumbai up by 441 to 8,613, 21 more succumb to COVID-19   Mumbai reports 441 fresh infections,  21 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 8,613 and deaths to 343. Total 1804 patients discharged till date, ANI quotes the Public Health Department of Mumbai as saying. 441 new #COVID19 cases & 21 deaths have been reported in Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 8613 & deaths to 343. Total 1804 patients discharged till today: Public Health Department, Mumbai. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/SVF3mjYHgN — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 20:15 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates Gujarat reports highest single-day spike in deaths   Gujarat on Sunday reported 374 new COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths, which is the highest single-day increase in deaths so far, a Health department official said. With this, the overall number of the coronavirus positive cases mounted to 5,428 and the death toll to 290. At 274, Ahmedabad accounted for the highest number of the new cases, followed by Surat and Vadodara at 25 each. 146 patients were discharged, taking the total number of recovered patients in the state to 1,042.   PTI 20:05 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates MHA issues clarification on order allowing movement on migrant labourers, students It is clarified that order regarding movement of persons amid lockdown is not extended to those categories of persons who are otherwise residing normally at places other than native places for purposes of work etc and those who wish to visit their native place in normal course, ANI quotes the ministry of home affairs as saying. It is clarified that order regarding movement of persons amid lockdown is not extended to those categories of persons who're otherwise residing normally at places other than native places for purposes of work etc.&those who wish to visit their native place in normal course: MHA pic.twitter.com/GY9Z2AVHt4 — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 20:01 (IST) Coronavirus in Chhattisgrah Latest Updates Chhattisgarh govt offices in non-hotspot zones to reopen from Monday The state government offices in Chhattisgarh will reopen from Monday, except those located in the COVID-19 containment zones, PTI quotes officials as saying.The offices in containment zones- areas under Katghora municipal council in Korba district and Jajawal village in Surjapur district- will continue to remain shut in view of COVID-19 cases in those areas     19:56 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates 94 new cases found in Dharavi, two more succumb to disease As many as 94 new COVID-19 cases and 2 deaths were reported in Dharavi today, pushing the total number of positive cases in the slum areas to 590, and toll to 20, ANI quotes the BMC as saying. 19:45 (IST) Coronavirus in Haryana Latest Updates Count in Haryana touches 442   Number of COVID-19 positive cases reaches 442 in Haryana, including 245 discharges  and five deaths. Number of active cases stands at 192, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. Number of #COVID19 positive cases reaches 442 in Haryana including 245 discharges & five deaths. Number of active cases stands at 192: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/4u5EGGasOI — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 19:33 (IST) Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates Cases in Tamil Nadu jump by 266 to 3,023 Tamil Nadu reports one COVID-19 death, 266 fresh infections, pushing total number of coronavirus cases to 3,023, according to the state health department. 19:27 (IST) Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates All districts of Kashmir, three districts of Jammu declared as red zones   The Jammu and Kashmir government released a classification of districts into red, orange and green zones. All districts of Kashmir province and Jammu , Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu have been designated as red zones while Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban and Rajouri have been classified as orange zones. the districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch fall under the Green Zone category. Red, Orange and Green districts categorized by J&K government as on date: Department of Information and Public Relations, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/E1PFX28Nae — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 19:21 (IST) Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates Eight more test psoitive in Gautam Buddh Nagar, total rises to 167 Eight more people, including two women, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Sunday, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases in the district to 167, officials said. On the brighter side, seven patients were discharged from hospitals following their treatment for COVID-19 and the number of cured people crossed the 100-mark, the officials said.   "Total 129 reports have been received in the last 24 hours. Eight of them positive and the rest were negative for COVID-19. The cumulative positive cases of coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar are now 167," District Surveillance Officer Sunil Dohare said. Among the new patients are a 20-year-old woman from Sector 8, 40-year-old woman from Sector 30, 50-year-old man from Sector 10, 31-year-old man from Nithari village in Sector 31 and two men, aged 31 and 38, from Mamura village — all six in Noida, he said. A 24-year-old man from Dadri and a 43-year-old man from Greater Noida also tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, the officer said.   "So far, 101 of the 167 patients have been cured and discharged, leaving 66 active cases in the district," he said. The recovery rate of patients is 60.47 per cent, as per the official statistics 19:11 (IST) Coronavirus in Punjab Latest Updates With 331 fresh infections, Punjab's count surges to 1,102 Punjab reports 331 new cases, pushing total number of cases over 1,100, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. Out of the total cases,  117 have been cured while 21 others succumbed to the infection and the number of active cases stands at 964. According to a report in The Tribune, Amritsar registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases for second day in a row---the district recoded 75 infections in a span of 24 hours, taking the district tally to 218.   19:05 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates Maximum 50 people allowed at weddings, 20 for last rites, says Arvind Kejriwal To maintain the norms of social distancing, not more than 50 people are allowed at wedding functions and not more than 20 at last rites of a deceased person, ANI quotes Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as saying. 18:55 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates 25 more BSF personnel test positive for COVID-19 The number of COVID-19 cases shot up in the Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday, with 25 more personnel testing positive for the disease, taking the tally in the force to 42, PTI quotes an official as saying. The new cases were reported from a unit of the 126th battalion of the force, deployed in the Jama Masjid and Chandni Mahal areas of the national capital on law-and-order duties under the command of the Delhi Police.   "A total of 25 troops from this unit deployed in Delhi tested positive for the disease on Sunday. Six from the unit had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday," a spokesperson of the border-guarding force said. So far, 42 BSF personnel have been found infected with the coronavirus infection, including some cases from a unit hospital in Delhi's R K Puram and two in Tripura, the spokesperson said. 18:46 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates Four categories of high-risk persons should remain at home, says Kejriwal   "Will suggest Centre to declare only containment areas in the city as red zone and not the entire district," said Delhi chief minsiter Arvind Kejriwal. He said that high risk persons- pregnant women, those above the age of 65 and below the age of 19, those with other diseases - shall remian at home. Significantly, he saidthat self employed persons including domestic workers, technicians and others will be allowed to work, he said. 18:34 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates Confirmed cases in India surge to 40,623, toll climbs to 1,306 Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 40,263 including 28,070 active cases, 10,887 cured/discharged/migrated and 1,306 deaths, according to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry. 18:27 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates Delivery of essential goods through e-commerce portals will continue: Kejriwal During a live webcast address, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said the delivery of essential goods through e-commerce portals will continue. Malls, gyms, sports complexes, cinemas, salons, market complexes, Delhi Metro will remain shut while shops selling essentials will continue to be open, he said. Air travel, and bus services within Dehi and to other states as well as all educational institutes in the National Capital will remain closed. Social, religious gathering will cotinue to be banned and all religious places of worship shall also remain closed. The chief minister also clarified that hospitality services as well as barber shops and saloons will remain closed. No one will be allowed to step out of their houses between 7 am and 7pm, except for emergency reasons, he said. 18:22 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates Delhi govt will implement all relaxations prescribed by Centre, says Arvind Kejriwal Althought the lockdown has been extended in Delhi for two weeks, the Delhi government will implement all lockdown relaxations prescribed by the Union home ministry, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal  Kejriwal further said that  government offices engaged in essential services will function with full strength while private office will operate with 33 percent strength, reported India Today.   18:16 (IST) Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates With 35 new cases, count in Jammu and Kashmir climbs to 701 Jammu and Kashmir saw an increase of 35 new cases, pushing the state total to 701. While 34 of the new cases were reported from Kashmir division, one was found in the Jammu division. 287 persons have recovered while eight have died due to the disease till date, taking the number of active cases to 406, said the media bulletin issued by the UT. 35 new positive cases have been reported in last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir; 1 from Jammu division and 34 from Kashmir division. Total number of active cases in the state stands at 406: Department of information and public relation J&K pic.twitter.com/lMq1o1J25o — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 18:11 (IST) Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Updates Karnataka reports 13 new cases, total rises to 614 13 new coronavirus cases were reported in Karnataka in the last 24 hours, said a bulletin released by the state health department. Total number of cases in the state stands at 614, including 25 deaths and 293 discharges, it said. The highest number of cases (149) and deaths (six) have been reported from the Bengaluru Urban district.   Karnataka #Covid19 Update:13 new Covid positive cases reported today, taking the total to 614 including 25 deaths and 293 discharges. pic.twitter.com/N86n5IBeJU — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 3, 2020 18:01 (IST) Coronavirus in Bihar Latest Updates Bihar reports four more cases, total rises to 485   Four more persons tested positive  for COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in Bihar to 485,  PTI quotes a top Health department official as saying. Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar said the four fresh COVID-19 cases were reported from Katihar (1), Buxar (2) and Kaimur (1) districts. In Katihar district, a 30-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19. In Buxar district, a 22-year-old man and a one-and- half-year-old girl tested positive for coronavirus while in Kaimur district a 45-year-old man turned out to be COVID-19 positive. The number of COVID-19 active cases in the state now stands at 364 as 117 people have recovered and four have died due to the disease.   17:54 (IST) Coronavirus in Odisha Latest Updates Odisha's total rises to 162 after five more test positive  Five more persons, including two returnees each from Surat and Kolkata, tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Sunday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 162, PTI quotes officials as saying. The five fresh cases were reported from Ganjam (two), Jharsuguda (one), Balasore (one) and Keonjhar (one) districts, the Information and Public Relations department said.   The latest COVID-19 case was reported from Hatadihi in Keonjhar district of a 30-year-old man, who had recently returned from Kolkata and was asymptomatic of the disease. He was kept in quarantine in view of his travel history, an official said, adding that the mineral-rich Keonjhar district now has two coronavirus patients. Similarly, a 34-year-old man from Balasore district with a travel history to Kolkata also tested positive for COVID-19. With this, the total number of coronavirus patients in Balasore increased to 21. Ganjam district, which had so far been a green zone, reported its first COVID-19 cases after two migrant workers (males aged 17 and 22 years), who returned from Gujarat recently, were diagnosed with the disease.     17:48 (IST) Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates Commercial flights at Delhi airport to operate only from Terminal three after lockdown ends   Commercial passenger flights at Delhi airport will initially operate from Terminal 3 after the lockdown ends,aid a senior official of its operator DIAL on Sunday, adding that entry gates, self check-in machines and check-in bays will be allocated to airlines to avoid overcrowding by air travellers. The airport will keep all food, beverage and retail shops open to avoid overcrowding at one place and use "ultraviolet disinfection tunnels" for all incoming baggage, according to a plan prepared by the GMR group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd.   The plan said the passengers of Vistara and IndiGo would enter the airport through gates 1 and 2 only. These two airlines will have check-in rows A, B and C among them, it said. AirAsia India and Air India passengers will use entry gates 3 and 4. These passengers will then go to rows D, E and F where the staff of these two airlines would assist them check-in, according to the plan. SpiceJet and GoAir passengers would enter through gate 5 towards the staff of these two airlines at rows G and H for check-in.   PTI 17:37 (IST) Coronavirus in Goa Latest Updates OPDs in Goa to operate with 50% staffing from Wednesday, says state health minister All out-patient departments in  hospitals in Goa, including the nodal GMCH, will be allowed to function from Wednesday with 50 percent staff, reports PTI. We may open all OPDs, including GMC, with 50 percent load factor from Wednesday. Protective gears and N95 masks to be provided to the doctors conducting OPDs," state health minister Vishwajit Rane said in a noting moved to the health department 17:31 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates  HRD Ministry to announce fresh dates for JEE, NEET on 5 May In a relief for engineering and medical aspirants, the HRD ministry on Sunday said fresh dates for competitive exams — JEE and NEET—will be announced on 5 May, reports PTI. The exams were postponed due to nationwide lockdown announced to contain the COVID-19 spread. "The fresh dates will be announced by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on May 5. This will put an end to uncertainty for the aspirants. The minister will also interact with students online the same day," a senior ministry official said.   While Joint Entrance Exam-Mains (JEE-MAINS) is conducted for admission to engineering colleges across the country, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted for medical colleges.  17:25 (IST) Coronavirus in Uttarakhand Latest Updates Case count in Uttarakhand reaches 60 as one more tests positive Oe more person tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of coronavirus patients in the state to 60. Of these, 39 have been cured and discharged while one person has died and the number of patients currently under treatment is 20, according to the 5pm bulletin issued by the state health department. One more person has tested positive for #Coronavirus in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of cases to 60 in the state: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/As7OQVnIWt — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2020 Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Curfew will be imposed in Haryana from 7 pm to 7 am with effect from May 4, state Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora said on Sunday. 12 more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested coronavirus positive in Tripura. Total number of positive cases in BSF stands at 54 now including 14 in Tripura. Madhya Pradesh reported 49 positive  and six deaths on Sunday, taking the state total to 2,837, according to a bulletin released by the state health department.  678 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in Maharashtra , taking the state tally to 12,974. 27 people died of the disease, taking the death count to 548, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department. Government deploys central teams in 20 districts with heavy case load of COVID-19 to help states in implementation of containment measures. Mumbai reports 441 fresh infections,  21 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 8,613 and deaths to 343. Total 1804 patients discharged till date, said the Public Health Department of Mumbai. Gujarat on Sunday reported 374 new COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths, which is the highest single-day increase in deaths so far, a Health department official said.  Tamil Nadu reports one COVID-19 death, 266 fresh infections, pushing total number of coronavirus cases to 3,023, according to the state health department. Punjab reports 331 new cases, pushing total number of cases over 1,100, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. Out of the total cases,  117 have been cured while 21 others succumbed to the infection and the number of active cases stands at 964. Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 40,263 including 28,070 active cases, 10,887 cured/discharged/migrated and 1,306 deaths, according to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry. All out-patient departments in  hospitals in Goa, including the nodal GMCH, will be allowed to function from Wednesday with 50 percent staff from Wednesday. No new infections have been found in Kerala in on Sunday. Meanwhile, one more person has been cured of the disease taking the number of recoveries to 401. The number of active cases in the state now stands at 95.  17 more people from a building in Delhi's Kapashera have tested positive for COVID-19. Total 58 positive cases have been reported from the building till date.The building was sealed on 19 April after a person was found to be coronavirus positive, ANI quotes the Office of DM Delhi South-West as saying. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren announced that lockdown will continue in Jharkhand till 17 May and the relaxations prescribed by the Centre won't be implemented in the state.  The Maharashtra government has decided to allow standalone shops including liquor shops to open in Red Zones, including in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune Metropolitan Region. However, these shops wont be permitted to function in areas marked as containment zones. One more person tested positive for COVID-19 at AIIMS, Rishikesh on Sunday, officials said. This is the sixth case of coronavirus at the hospital in the last nine days. The latest case is that of a 29-year-old nursing officer at the facility, nodal officer for coronavirus cases at the hospital Madhur Uniyal said. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Haryana climbed to 421 on Sunday, said the state health department. The figure includes 174 active cases. So far, the state has registered five deaths while, the COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 57.5 percent with 242 patients being dicharged. Of the 130 Sikh pilgrims who returned from Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Sunday to Punjab, 63 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Nawanshahr, said Vinay Bulani, Deputy Commissioner. Over 10,000 COVID-19 patients were discharged across the nation on Sunday, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. "Those still admitted at hospitals are on the road to recovery," he said. The health minister also claimed that India's mortality rate was the lowest across the world at 3.2 percent. The current doubling rate for COVID-19 cases has improved to 12 days as against 10.5 days in the last two weeks, while the mortality rate has been recorded at 3.2 percent, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. After a staff of one of the top officers of CRPF tested positive for coronavirus, the CRPF headquarters in Delhi was sealed for sanitisation till further orders. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 360 in Maharashtra's Nashik district after 27 more people tested positive for the viral disease, the district administration said on Sunday. With this, 324 COVID-19 cases have so far been reported from Malegaon town, 16 from Nashik city and 17 from other parts of the district. In the past 24 hours, 2,644 new COVID-19 positive cases and 83 more deaths were registered across the nation, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Confirmed cases climbed to 39,980 with 28,046 active cases. The COVID-19 recovery rate was at 26.6 percent after 10,633 patients were cured. India recorded 39,980 COVID-19 positive cases after 2,644 more tested positive in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data released by the health ministry on Sunday. After 83 more succumbed to the viral infection as of Sunday, the toll climbed to 1,301. With 31 more individuals testing COVID-19 positive in Rajasthan, the total confirmed cases in the state climbed to 2,803 on Sunday till 9 am, said Health Department, Rajasthan. Karnataka government charged an exorbitant price of Rs 1,300 from migrant workers for a Rs 300 bus ticket, according to media reports. The measure was taken as the buses would be plying at half capacity to ensure social distancing. Speaking to The News Minute, a KSRTC official said, "The prices are three times higher because the buses are taking only 30 people even though there are 55 seats. We are charging the minimum fare of Rs 39 per kilometre and we are also counting the fare for the return trip the bus has to take to come back to Bengaluru." After the issuance of Ministry of Home Affairs order on reopening of districts from 4 May, the Tripura government on Saturday said that there will be no prohibition in the functioning of government offices in green and orange zones. All categories of employees will work from office. "A separate order will be issued for functioning of schools, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions," read the state government's order. The MHA has categorised six districts of Tripura as green zones and two districts as orange zones. Nearly 500 Delhi students stranded at coaching hub Kota in Rajasthan during the lockdown reached Kashmere Gate ISBT in Delhi in 40 buses early Sunday morning. Delhi's Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the students would be sent to their homes from Kashmere Gate ISBT after medical tests. Two more test positive in Ganjam dist taking confirmed cases in Odisha to 159 Odisha registered 159 COVID-19 cases on Sunday after two more individuals tested positive for the viral disease, according to the latest data released by the state health ministry. Both the cases were reported in Ganjam district. The total number of districts affected by the novel coronavirus climbed to 16 in the state. India on Saturday registered a record jump of 2,411 new coronavirus cases and  71 deaths, taking the total number of infections in the country to 37,776 and the toll to 1,223. Meanwhile, migrant workers stranded in different states since the imposition of the lockdown began their journey homes in special 'shramik trains'. Case count surges to 37,776, toll reaches 1,223 According to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry, the number of infections in the country jumped to 37,776 while the toll rose to 1,223. Over 10,000 persons have been cured of the disease and the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 26,535, it said. Of the total fatalities, the highest have been reported in Maharashtra (485), followed by Gujarat (236), Madhya Pradesh (145) , Rajasthan (62) and Delhi (61). Maharashtra continues to have the highest number of infections with 11,506 cases reported from the state. Gujarat has reported a total of 4,721 cases, followed by Delhi (3,738), Madhya Pradesh (2,719) and Rajasthan (2,666). According to the Uttar Pradesh health department, 127 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in the state on Saturday, pushing the number of confirmed cases to 2,455. Forty-three deaths have so far been reported and 656 patients treated and discharged from hospitals. So far, COVID-19 cases have been reported in 64 of the 75 districts in the state, officials said. In Delhi, 68 more personnel attached to a CRPF battalion tested positive for the novel coronavirus, taking the total number of those afflicted in the battalion to 122. A total of 127 CRPF personnel have so far contracted the disease, including one death and one recovery, ANI quoted the CRPF as saying. In Maharashtra, as many as 56 persons were discharged from a civic-run hospital in Thane's Mira Bhayander area at the same time, including a three-year-old girl and three septuagenarians. Meanwhile, 20 visitors to the Gurdwara Langar Sahib in Nanded tested positive for the disease. The gurdwara had been shut on Friday after several pilgrims from Punjab, who returned to their state after visiting this shrine, tested coronavirus positive, officials had said. On Saturday, Kerala, too, reported two positive cases — one from Wayanad and one from Kannur — taking the total number of cases in the state to 499. With Wayanad reporting a positive case after a month, the district was moved from the green to the orange zone, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Barber shops, home delivery of non-essential items allowed in green and orange zones, clarifies MHA A day after issuing fresh guidelines for the lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that barber shops and salons will be allowed to open in green and orange zones during the third phase of the lockdown beginning 4 May, besides sale of non-essential items by e-commerce platforms. However, barber shops, saloons will continue to be prohibited in red zones and  e-commerce companies are allowed to sell only essential commodities in such areas, said the ministry. The MHA on Friday, while extending the lockdown for two more weeks till 17 May, had lifted many restrictions in green and orange zones. Sale of liquor is allowed in non containment areas of green, orange and red zones through stand alone shops and not in malls or shopping complexes, it further clarified. In liquor shops, customers will have to maintain minimum six feet distance from each other, and also ensure that not more than five persons are present at one time at the shop. On allowing domestic maids to work in red zones, a home ministry official said the RWAs should take a call  regarding allowing the movement of outsiders. But health protocols have to be maintained by domestic helps as well as employers, and the responsibility lies with the person who employs maids in case of any mishaps. According to the home ministry, travel by road (inter-state), rail and air and metro are banned across the country during the lockdown. The home ministry, however, may give permission in special cases depending on the urgency. According to ANI, the ministry added that in orange zones, inter-district  and intra-district plying of buses remains prohibited. Taxis and cab aggregators are allowed to ply, with a restriction of two passengers apart from the driver in each vehicle only.  Inter-district movement of private cars in such zones is allowed only for permitted activities, with maximum two passengers, besides the driver. In orange zones, inter-district movement of individuals and vehicles is allowed, only for permitted activities, with maximum two passengers, besides the driver, in four-wheelers: Ministry of Home Affairs. #lockdownextension https://t.co/mjIqgu2kJV — ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020 // // ]]> MMR, Pune 'no-go', says Maharashtra govt Based on the orders issued by the Centre, states also issued guideline for the third phase on the nationwide lockdown. The Maharashtra government said that in the cities with police commissionerates, a concerned deputy commissioner of police (DCP) will have the power to allow inter-state or inter-district journey. But the movement of people will not be allowed between the areas under Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and other parts of the state during lockdown, it said. The Karnataka government, too issued revised guidelines which will come into force from 4 May. Karnataka Government issues revised guidelines on #lockdown measures which will come into effect from May 4 for two weeks in the state. pic.twitter.com/mDdZgytuaX — ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020 // // ]]> Meanwhile, the Delhi government launched an exercise to open liquor shops in the National Capital in accordance with the latest guidelines issued by the home ministry. The excise department has directed four government-run agencies, which are responsible to sell liquor in the city, to identify such outlets which fulfil all conditions prescribed by the  MHA. DCGA extends suspension of flights till 17 May The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)  issued a circular to extend the suspension of domestic and international commercial flight operations till 17 May. However, the restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA. Migrant workers head back in 'shramik trains' The first 'Shramik Special' train carrying 1,187 stranded migrant labourers from Jaipur reached the Danapur railway station in Patna on Saturday afternoon. Another special train train carrying over 300 stranded labourers from Nashik in Maharashtra reached Misrod Station on the outskirts of Bhopal. "We have started screening these passengers brought here from Nashik in the special train. After that, they will be sent to their respective towns in different buses," a district administration officer told PTI. This is the first special train which reached Bhopal after the Centre's announcement to run such services to facilitate the stranded labourers and workers. A special train with 847 migrants also departed for Lucknow from Nashik in around 10 am on Saturday, said the Central Railway. Similar 'Shramik trains' are also set to provide connectivity between states such as Gujarat and Uttra Pradesh, Kerala and Jharkhand, among others. Gujarat: A special train carrying migrant workers left from Sabarmati in Ahmedabad for Agra in Uttar Pradesh, amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/DBjPVWwXqV — ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020 // // ]]> However, the problems faced by migrant workers continued to make it to the headlines with a migrant worker cycling from his workplace in Delhi to home in Bihar dying in UP's Saharanpur. Dharamveer, along with a few other labourers, had started their journey from Delhi to Khagaria district in Bihar on bicycles on 28 April, PTI quotes police as saying. "On Friday night, they halted on the Delhi-Lucknow highway in Shahjahanpur. When the condition of Dharamveer deteriorated, the labourers took him to the medical college where he was declared brought dead," said Circle Officer (city) Praveen Kumar. In another case, 18 people, including 14 migrant labourers, were found to be travelling inside a cement mixer from Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh. "During the routine check-up at Panth Piplai village, about 35 kilometres from Indore, we stopped a truck laden with a cement-mixer on suspicion. After opening the lid, we found 18 people inside," Traffic Police sub-inspector Amit Kumar Yadav told PTI. Meanwhile, the Odisha government issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for sending "guest workers" in the state to their home states by road or rail. The state government appointed nodal officers in charge of workers for different states and said the the prior approval of recipient states was necessary for sending back the stranded workers. Modi holds review meeting on agricultural reforms, MSMEs Prime Minister Narendra Modi  deliberated on ways to reform the agriculture sector with emphasis on agriculture marketing, access of farmers to institutional credit and freeing the sector of various restrictions with appropriate backing of laws. The government has maintained that the country's farm sector is functioning smoothly despite the COVID-19 lockdown and there will not be much impact on its growth in the current fiscal, unlike other sectors. The pros and cons of bio-technological developments in crops or enhancement of productivity and reduction in input costs was also deliberated, an official statement said. Concessional credit flow to strengthen agriculture infrastructure, special Kisan Credit Card saturation drive for PM-Kisan beneficiaries and facilitating inter and intra-state trade of agriculture produce to ensure fairest return to farmers were some of the other important areas covered, the statement said. Developing eNAM or the National Agriculture Market into a "platform of platforms" to enable e-commerce was one of the important topics of discussion on Saturday. The prime minister also held a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen the MSME sector. Chaired a meeting on strengthening our MSME sector, which plays a pivotal role in economic development. There were extensive discussions on ways to make this sector more vibrant, attractive and ready to embrace new opportunities. pic.twitter.com/b3o9MMZWZj — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 2, 2020 // // ]]> With inputs from agencies

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