Empowered groups to handle outbreak

NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Sunday formed 10 empowered groups and a strategic task force comprising senior civil servants to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak and its aftermath.

The setting up of the groups and the task force, which together have 68 bureaucrats, is an attempt to forge a planning and implementation machinery that acts in concert to minimise the impact of the disease the

World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a pandemic.

The groups will consult frequently over video conferencing or meetings to provide suggestions to the government. They will also monitor their areas of ambit daily and are empowered to take decisions, indicating the pace with which the Centre wants these groups to act.

The six-member strategic task force will deal exclusively with issues related to the lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for three weeks starting on March 25.

NEWDELHI:THE Union home ministry said on Sunday that newspaper delivery supply chains are allowed under exemptions announced by the government during the 21-day national lockdown implemented to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The information and broadcasting ministry previously directed all states and Union territories to ensure “operational continuity” of print and electronic media. “Newspaper delivery supply chain is also allowed under print media,” an order said on Sunday.