Expressing satisfaction over his government’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Wednesday said certain relaxations were allowed to the industry in the State as per the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines after April 20.
An estimated 5.5 lakh workers and labourers were engaged in work in the State and brick kilns were allowed to operate employing 2.07 lakh labourers, he said.
The Chief Minister said relaxations in the seven most affected districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh, Palwal, Sonipat, Panipat and Panchkula would be decided at the block level, but the plan for the rest of the State would be at the district level. He informed shops in the villages were allowed to open and in situ units, with the workers staying inside the premises, were also allowed.
He also said the Information Technology companies could work with one-third strength and the rest of the industries with half the staff.
‘308 cases so far’
Mr. Lal said the number of COVID-19 infections in Haryana doubled every 21 days, compared with the national average of eight days. The State has recorded 308 cases of COVID-19 so far, and 224 people out of them have recovered. Besides three deaths, the State has 81 active cases. The situation would have been better had not numbers increased due to a religious congregation in Delhi in March, he claimed.
Extra wages
The Chief Minister also said the industries, in consultation with the workers, could work for 12 hours, but need to pay the extra wages as per the law.
He said that 15,500 migrant workers in relief camps in Haryana were sent back to their respective States after a quarantine period of more than a month.
