Haroon Bijli

Dear mitron,

Thank you for tuning in to this message. I value your time and I know it is not been easy for you – many of us are going through a hard time. I would like to request your attention for the next few minutes. Not all of it is going to be good news.

Firstly, I would like to thank our frontline staff, our doctors, nurses, health workers, security staff, our airline and airport officers and all others who are at the forefront of our fight against Covid19. The selfless service they are rendering cannot be measured in numbers or said in words. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The brief good news is that India has so far lagged other nations in the impact of the novel Corona Virus. The world has seen what happened to China, especially the Hubei province. We’ve seen the virus spread to Italy and now Spain, Iran, and the US. We are lucky that we were spared the first onslaught and got the opportunity to learn from what other nations are doing. But this should sober us, and we should prepare ourselves to prevent the virus from doing a similar damage to us.

Because if we don’t act to mitigate now, it will be difficult to contain it later. Scientists all over the world agree on this, and our scientific and health organisations are in constant touch with WHO, colleagues in the US, China and other countries to see how best we can help, support and learn from each other.

Having said this, I would like to move on to some actions that my government is taking. Many of these steps cause hardship to us, but we have to face this adversity bravely together.

As I speak, your government has assembled a team of renowned and respected epidemiologists, public health specialists, virologists and data scientists to advise the health and travel ministries for the next two months.

As per their learned advice, we are taking two broad sets of measures. One is our immediate containment strategy that is already in place, and some more steps that will come into force. The other set is long term and one that will evolve as we learn more.

Let me go through the immediate steps, some of which you have already seen.

Further Controls At Airports

We have set up very tight border controls at all our airports and entry points, as also embarkation points. I know this cause hardships for our citizens and family members, but this is essential and I expect you to support it. For our citizens who have not been allowed to embark on their trip home, rest assured that we will make every attempt to bring you home. Our colleagues at Air India have never let us down in this aspect.

India On Self-Quarantine

In the next week, we will exercise complete self-quarantine and no scheduled passenger flights will land on Indian soil for seven days starting March 22. Cargo, government and special flights will continue. Those who have planned to arrive in these seven days, please reschedule your arrival with your airline. If you do not have a place to stay, please get in touch with your nearest embassy or consulate. We have asked them to take care of you.

Public Testing

Our experts have warned us that we need to accelerate and scale up our public testing for the Covid19 virus. For this, we have earmarked a fund of Rs 12.000 crore. This will be used for scaled up production of testing kits; we have spoken to WHO and other global manufacturers for manufacturing and import. We have asked all Indian manufacturers to augment this and will provide an additional grant to cover the investment in getting these systems ready. My transport minister has several logistics partners ready and willing to go the extra mile, once these are ready, to ensure delivery to all critical states and cities.

Election Commission

As you know, ICMR has already put in place a system for massive public testing. We will also engage the Election Commission to activate their organization in full public election mode. The efficiency of our EC officials is well-known, and we will ensure that all officials and volunteers are trained and adequately equipped for their safety, have insurance and daily allowance for the duration of this activity.

Cessation of Political Activity

Which brings me to the second step: we have advised all cessation of political activity and closure of parliament and legislatures. This moratorium will be in place till end of this month, and longer, if need be. We need to govern without distraction. All elections are also postponed till June 2020 after which we will take a call along with other national parties and the Election Commission. People, I need your support in this.

Hospitals Under Public Control

Towards urgent medical care, from midnight onwards, all private hospitals in India will be under public administration for the next 30 days. Health departments of the respective state governments have already been taken into confidence. We need beds, we need facilities, we need to be able to manage our resources equitably. We have earmarked a budget for this purpose; and have enhanced daily allowance and safety measures for health workers. We are in discussion with all affected States to see how we can help them with additional funds towards this.

Break The Chain. Stay At Home.

We should also practice strict protocols and practice extra care in maintaining health and hygiene. These are necessary to “break the chain” of the transmission of the virus. My government is working on a plan that will ensure that all registered private enterprises with a strength of 1000 and a staff of 100 or more at a single location practice Work From Home and avoid commuting and travel.

Through this speech, I am appealing to business leaders to voluntarily embrace Work From Home. For your staff who cannot function remotely, I advise you to strictly follow hygiene and social distancing protocols in whichever function they are in. We have already enforced this in our government offices. Please lead the community in this.

While Traveling

Though I advise you not to commute or travel, I recognize there are some unavoidable travel. Many of you are traveling back to your homes from other cities and others travel on work. We are supporting local governments in ensuring adequate screening is maintained at all bus stations. For railways, we are activating additional CISF forces where the case may be. Allocation up to Rs 2000 crore is being made available for the purpose of Covid19 related protection of personnel and cleaning of railway stations and trains. Railways will need additional personnel for the massive exercise; hence a part of this budget will go to allowance for temporary staff. If you are able-bodied and have time, I encourage you to visit the railways website and see how you can volunteer.

Mobile and Data Networks

Our phone and data networks will be stretched to the limit in these coming days. We need them the most at this time. For this, my government is taking the step to waive all license charges on spectrum usage immediately. This will continue till the end of this April 2020 and we will take a call, in consultation with ministries involved and both private and public internet service providers. We will also appeal to the Supreme Court to postpone any pending taxation demands on our telecom companies so that these funds can be diverted to the essentials.

Long-Term Measures

Most of the measures I have talked about are for the short term, that is, applicable immediately or next week.

My team and I have been studying reports and opinions of many scientists globally about Covid19. It is not only unprecedent impact in the present term but will also change things substantially in the medium and long-term.

Vaccine Development

Let us look at the possibility of the development of vaccines. At best, it is 18 months away. As a member of the global community, we need to pitch in and help in the effort of developing a commercially viable vaccine. For this, my government is setting up a grant of up to USD 10 million globally, which we will allocate to both Indian and overseas laboratories at Universities, Research Institutes, private and public enterprises, to accelerate the process of development of the vaccine. This fund will be allocated in part or in full. We are in touch with WHO, and any such contribution will take place within their ambit. Let me reiterate, we are in this together.

Containment

Till such time a vaccine is developed and made available across the country, we have to exercise long term containment measures.

We, and our state governments, have identified quarantine facilities in all states and major cities and will work with local governments to bring them up to world-class and have an adequate number of beds. We have also allocated Rs 5000 crore for this purpose, and this is over and above the state’s expenditure. Some of this fund will specifically go to scaled up procurement of vital medicines that are currently being used to treat Covid19.

Change Our Work and Life Habits

We will also have to change our lifestyles drastically. Through this speech I appeal to business leaders to relook at work policies at all levels to create a culture that keeps India’s workforce healthy and productive. We have temporary and migrant labour at your enterprises who travel many miles to work and stay at your factories, construction sites, farms and plants. We request you to review their workplaces and facilities and, along with your local labour commissioners, ensure that adequate safety and hygiene measures are in place. At this time and in the months ahead, the health of your personnel is very important. No worker should be forced to leave his or her livelihood for fear of lack of wages or health and safety. I am sure that you will spare no expense.

Transport and Infrastructure

In many cities, we will have to come to terms with overcrowding. I urge companies to contemplate staggered working hours and long-term localization and work-from-home to ensure that overcrowding is gradually reduced. My team and I are looking at how we can accelerate the pace of the improvement of our local transportation and if need be, review JN NURM for this purpose.

My transport minister has also spoke to our business leaders, especially those in the food, beverage and logistics industry. We have a public distrubtion system and FCI, but we feel these are likely to be overburdened if the pandemic crosses a certain threshold. We will augment our capabilities with private sector colleagues to get essentials to the consumer. Don’t worry about food and essentials. We have a healthy supply and we will get it to you.

Financial Support to Weaker Sections

As an outcome of the immediate lockdown and the disease itself, daily wage earners, farmers, and small informal businesses have been under severe pressure. Many of our state governments have allocated funds under various schemes and we welcome this step. We will work with them to allocate additional central funds accordingly so that they are not overburdened.

At the central level, we have decided to allocate Rs 200,000 crores under all our grassroots support schemes such as MGNREGA, NSAS, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. We will work with State governments, local administration and NGOs to ensure that the most vulnerable sections are not overwhelmed with the impact of Covid19 and lose their livelihoods.

I would like to ask my brothers and sisters who have traveled far from home in search of work to stay put. We will come to you. We will ensure that you get your daily wages and essential supplies. Don’t travel home at this time, it will be risky for your life and health.

High Impact Businesses

We have also taken a decision on Corporate Tax and GST waivers for April and May 2020 for businesses that have faced direct impact of Covid19. These are food service industry, travel and tourism establishments, and shops. Your local GST commissioner will communicate more details to you.

We will also reduce taxes on Air Turbine Fuel after this month. A special package for Airlines and Hospitality will be worked out in due course after discussions with all stakeholders.

The finance minister and I are working out details on how we will budget for the all of these above, but we are confident that these steps will alleviate the negative impact of Covid19.

We Are Here For You

We are together in the midst of one of the world’s gravest crisis since world war 2, friends. Till such time as the immediate crisis is over, your government will hold a daily press call at 7.00 pm every day. which will be lead by me, along with my colleagues in the Finance Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Travel Ministry. Senior Scientific Advisors, and CMs will also join on a need basis.

This will be a live video conference with limited in-person audience. I am appealing to our media colleagues to prioritize the video conference facility over coming to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Open Your Hearts

Before I end, I have one more request. I will call on you, those who can, to spend generously when it comes to those who keep this country running. Every time a delivery person comes to your door, please treat that person well, tip him if you can. If you see someone cleaning your street, please treat them well, and help whichever way you can. Order from your local grocer and vegetable vendor and buy from him, while ensuring adequate precautions for both of you. Ensure that your community gets through this together. Though we will practice social distancing, we will be one in our hearts and minds.

Your local governments will also appeal to you to stay at home and avoid gathering or traveling. They may take measures such as lockdown of offices, commercial establishments, schools and colleges, and entertainment spaces. The experience of other countries has shown that this helps a great deal in transmission of the virus, and I urge you to wholeheartedly cooperate with your local administration in this matter. Please spread this message.

Thank you for listening, and I wish you and your families good health and a prosperous long life. Let us go through this together.

Yours Truly

PM