Odisha Lockdown: Here’re exemptions for commercial and private establishments

Bhubaneswar: Though the state Government extended the COVIID-19 lockdown till April 30, it exempted a few services for the second phase of the lockdown.

Among other services, the Government exempted various commercial and private establishments and allowed them to remain open during the period while adhering to social distancing and other lockdown norms.

Here’re exemptions for commercial and private establishments:

• Shops, including ration shops (under PDS), dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal feed & fodder, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides including their transportation, warehousing and related activities. However, district authorities may encourage and facilitate home delivery to minimize the movement of individuals outside their homes.

(Explanation:  Food and grocery shall mean all items of food and grocery  that are usually  consumed  by people  on day  to day basis and  include,  among  others, hygiene   products   such  as  hand   washes,  soaps,  disinfectants,    body   wash, shampoos,  surface  cleaners,  detergents,   tissue papers,  toothpaste,   oral  care, sanitary pads,  diapers,  charger and battery  cells, etc.)

• Take away and home delivery restaurants including dhabas.

• Home delivery by operators/ online delivery services & courier services such as Amazon, Flipkart, Blue Dart, DTDC, Big Basket, Grofers, Urban Clap, Zomato, Myntra, Swiggy, KFC, PizzaHut, Dominos, Uber Eats, etc.

• Home Delivery of all goods through E-commerce/ online platforms.

• Retailers of food & grocery items such as Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, OMFED, OPOLFED, Chilika Fresh, Spencers, etc. They are also allowed to provide home delivery services.

• Banks, insurance offices, and ATMs including IT Vendors for banking operation; Banking Correspondent, ATM operation and cash management agencies. However, in the urban areas of  districts of  Odisha classified as High Risk (Khordha, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Puri, Jajpur, Kalahandi and Dhenkanal) by National Disaster Management Authority, all these offices shall function with up to 50% staff strength

• Print and electronic media including broadcasting

• IT and IT enabled Services, with up to 50% strength.

• Data and call centres

• Telecommunication, internet services, broadcasting and cable services/DTH and optical fibre

• Petrol pumps, LPG, petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets

• Capital and debt market services as notified by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

• Government approved Common Service Centres (CSCs) at Gram Panchayat level.

• Cold storage and warehousing services, including at ports, airports, railway stations, container Depots, individual units and other links in the  logistics chain.

• Private security services and facilities management services for maintenance and upkeep of office and residential complexes.

• Hotels, home stays, Lodges and motels, which are accommodating tourists and persons stranded due to lockdown, medical and emergency staff, air and sea crew.

• Establishments used/earmarked for quarantine facilities.

• Services provided by self-employed persons, e.g. Electrician, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters.

• Shops that repair and service electrical and electronic appliances including fans, air coolers, water purifiers, air conditioners, mobile phones, computers, accessories etc.

• Shops dealing in construction equipment and supplies such as cement, iron, rods, chips etc.