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Karnataka’s government has decided to partially ease blockade restrictions in the state to allow IT and ITeS companies to reopen offices with “minimal essential personnel” starting Thursday. The restrictions for selected sectors will be reduced starting at 00:00 hours on April 22, according to a notification issued by the chief secretary of the state, T M Vijay Bhaskar.
While IT and ITeS companies will be able to reopen their workplaces, most of their staff will have to continue working from home. Recognition of IT companies is considered a critical move as Karnataka is one of the largest IT and ITeS exporters, and is the largest employer in the state’s organized sector.
In a detailed 14-page order, the chief secretary said work under MNREGA, courier services, warehousing and cold storage services, private security and facility management, independent electricians, IT repairs and other industrial projects can be resumed from Friday out of contention. zones The list of services also includes plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters, food processing industries in rural areas, essential goods manufacturing units, packaging material, and construction activities, including metropolitan railways, roads, and irrigation works.
The government has identified more than 400 containment zones across the state. The notification emphasized that the use of masks, social distancing and other measures must be strictly followed and that only local workers can be employed in these activities and that new personnel cannot be brought in from another location.
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The government has been under immense financial pressure since the blockade took effect on March 24, paralyzing almost all income-generating activities across the state. However, apart from the exceptions mentioned above, Karnataka’s primary and secondary education minister, Suresh Kumar, emphasized that the blockade in other sectors would continue until May 3, as previously announced. This means that schools, colleges, shopping malls, theaters, subways, buses, trains, or flight services will remain suspended along with all religious venues and gatherings.
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