Afternoon News - 28 April, 2020
06:17 Share

**1. Standalone shops to open in rural areas: Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary - **The State Cabinet has decided to open shops, but not markets or haats, in rural areas across the districts that have been tagged as ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ zones. This apart, the inter-district movement in the State has been extended up to May 2. State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that standalone shops in rural areas in the ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ zone districts except the containment areas will open during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. The Assam State Cabinet has decided to open shops, but not markets or haats, in rural areas across the districts that have been tagged as ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ zones. This apart, the inter-district movement in the State has been extended up to May 2.

**2. North-eastern States for extending nationwide lockdown beyond May 3 - **Most of the north-eastern States are in favour of extending the nationwide lockdown beyond May 3 with relaxations in economic activities and public services in the ‘Green Zones’. After the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video link, on Monday the Chief Ministers of eight NE States tweeted their views vowing to strengthen the collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

**3. Over 20 lakh people may become jobless in Assam, says AMDB Chairman Mominul Aowal - **Around 20 to 25 lakh people may become jobless across the State till the lockdown is over, said Assam Minority Development Board Chairman Mominul Aowal on Monday. Talking to The Sentinel, Aowal said that the lockdown has shackled the economy of the State and lakhs of people have lost their sources of income.

**4. Drinking water schemes to resume immediately in Assam: Minister Rihon Daimari - **All schemes related to safe drinking water across the State will be resumed with immediate effect following the government guidelines related to new Coronavirus. The direction in this regard was issued to the Department officers by Public Health Engineering Minister Rihon Daimari on Monday. Owing to lockdown, many ongoing works worth approximately Rs 400 crore remained suspended in this ‘Essential Services’ sector.

**5. Six high-risk contacts of Corona positive case from Dima Hasao released - **The people of Dima Hasao breathed sigh of relief as the six high-risk contacts of the new Coronavirus positive case from Dima Hasao were discharged officially in presence of Executive Member, N C Hills Autonomous Council in-charge medical, Samuel Changsan, Deputy Commissioner Amitabh Rajkhowa, Additional SP Dr Manabendra Gogoi, Joint Director of Health Services Dipali Barman and other dignitaries on Monday.

**6. Assam Police arrested 3,242 people across State for violating lockdown norms - **3,242 people have been arrested across the State for the violation of lockdown and Rs. 1,39,00,600 has been relalized as fine, stated Assam Police in its daily report. The department has seized a total of 20,498 vehicles till Monday. Out of the total seized vehicles, 18,544 are two wheelers, 1,645 are four wheelers and 275 are three wheelers. Along with the vehicles, the department has also seized 20 country boats and 5 machine boats.

**7. Bar Council to provide financial assistance to advocates who are affected due to lockdown - **The Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have taken an initiative to provide financial assistance to advocates who are affected due to the coronavirus pandemic. An amount up to Rs. 5,000 would be given as a one-time measure of financial assistance to the affected people.