Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 19, 2020 gave nine calls including a self-imposed ‘janata curfew’ on March 22, not to resort to panic-buying, asking senior citizens to stay indoors, social-distancing, avoiding elective surgery or routine health check-ups not to overburden health services, asking employers to pay employees in full when they have to stay home and to stay away from rumours.
‘Janta Curfew’ : PM Modi urged citizens to follow the concept of ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22nd March 2020 from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M., wherein no one apart from those involved with essential services is supposed to venture out of the home. He said this curfew will be “for the people and by the people of India” .
COVID-19 task force: The Prime Minister also announced the setting up of the COVID-19 task force, under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, for measures to mitigate some of the economic hardships engendered by the pandemic. He also asked everyone to be compassionate and not to cut the wages of those working in homes, support staff, drivers and gardeners.
