On Friday, the Home Ministry permitted to open all the shops located in the residential areas as well as market complexes. This includes shops within as well as outside the municipality containment zones. However, this permission does not apply for the various multi-brand and single-brand malls. Be it is within or outside the municipal limits.
But an issue of clarification is expected from the Home Ministry on Saturday regarding the clarification of the order. As in which shops will be specifically included in the list and which ones are to be kept out.
Moreover, various conditional directions need to be followed while reopening the allowed shops. Firstly, the opening of the shops has been permitted according to the April 15 guidelines issued by the Home Ministry.
The premise of the guidelines is the Disaster Management Act of 2005. Tendering to the guidelines issued, the shops will have to function with half their usual staff strength.
This is to prevent overcrowding in the shops. Also, face masks and social distancing should be followed without fail.
As per the Home Ministry, the term “shopping complexes” has been replaced by “market complexes” thereby amending the sub-clause 1(x) of the MHA guidelines. This concerns shops within the municipal limits.
Also, additional terms have been made in the sub-clauses (xiii) and (xiv) under Clause 14. This is concerning the commercial and private establishments that are allowed to function during the lockdown.
The extension says, “all shops registered under Shops Establishment Act of respective State/UT, shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in and single brand and multiple-brand malls, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, with 50% strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory.
Also all shops, including neighborhood shops, standalone shops, shops in residential complexes within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/UT, except shops in market complexes and multi-brand and single-brand malls, with 50% strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing mandatory.”
