In a series of restrictions imposed by several other states, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot had gone ahead to announce a Jan Anushasan Pakhwara (JAP), or the Public Discipline Fortnight to curb the spread of coronavirus till May 3.
JAP, is typically an extension of the curfew announced for the weekend (6 pm, April 16 – 5 am, April 19). However, the government avoided calling it neither a lockdown, a curfew, mainly because of its interpretations as the measures have been implemented in the past.
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The restrictions have come into effect from April 19, Monday, and will remain in force from till 5 am on May 3. The decision to impose curbs was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Rajasthan's chief minister.
“To effective control and curb the spread of Covid-19, it has been decided to prohibit various activities across the state under ‘self-discipline fortnight’,” Gehlot tweeted.
What's Closed?
During the Public Discipline Fortnight, government offices, markets, malls, and all workplaces will be closed during this time.
The CM said that the continuation of normal activities in public places, markets, workplaces, etc. leads to crowd causing the infection to spread. To control this, all workplaces, business establishments, and markets across the state should be kept closed during the public discipline fortnight starting from Monday (April 19).
Wearing a mask has been made mandatory. The Chief Minister said wearing a mask is a necessary preventive measure to stop the spread of Covid-19. In order to strictly enforce it, action should be taken as per rules against persons not wearing masks in public places and workplaces.
What Will Remain Open?
As per the order issued, during this time, government personnel involved in district administration, home, finance, police, jail, home guard, electricity, water, essential services will be allowed with appropriate identity cards.
Offices related to essential services of the central government will remain open. People coming and going from bus stand, railway, metro station and airport will be allowed to travel on showing travel ticket. Incoming passengers must show a negative corona report.
As per the guidelines issued, it is mandatory for the passengers arriving in the state to show the RT PCR investigation report within the last 72 hours of starting the journey.
On the other hand, the person employed for the movement of heavy vehicles transporting goods within the state, loading, and unloading of goods will be allowed. Dhaba and vehicle repair shops operating on the highway are allowed. During this time all ration shops will be open without any holiday.
According to the guidelines, banks, ATMs, and insurance offices will be allowed for telecommunication, internet services, postal services, courier facilities, cable services, IT-related services, banking services during this period.
Processed food, sweets, and confectionery, home delivery by restaurants is allowed till 8 p.m. Services of LPG, petrol pumps, CNG, petroleum, gas-related retail, wholesale outlets are allowed till 8 p.m.
In order to prevent the migration of the working class, the guidelines have allowed them to work in all industry and construction-related units. The concerned unit will issue an identity card to its workers by an authorized person to facilitate movement.
Wholesale and retail shops selling food items, such as kirana stores, as well as mandis, fruits and vegetables, dairies, as well as shops selling fodder. These will be permitted to be open till 5 pm. Fruit and vegetable vendors on pull carts, cycles, rickshaws, auto, mobile vans will be allowed to sell till 7 pm.
The state witnessed the highest rise in cases so far, with 10,514 fresh infections and 42 related deaths on Sunday, according to a health department bulletin.