82 years of service to the nation PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM GUWAHATI & DIBRUGARH GET IT ON RN-1127/57 TECH/GH – 103/2018-2020, VOL. 83, NO. 108 www.assamtribune.com Google Play ePaper app for The Assam Tribune Pages 12 Price: 6.00 GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020 p3 IMA calls off proposed protests p5 Parties decry VAT hike on petro p7 Deficient pre-monsoon after meeting with Shah products; fear price rise rainfall in NE region 3-day conditional inter-dist Centre okays Rs 15,000 cr PM interaction for COVID-19 package NEW DELHI, April 22: Prime Minister Narendra movement from April 25 SPL CORRESPONDENT Modi will interact with chief ministers via video STAFF REPORTER trict movement of patients. The government will also on certain routes on those NEW DELHI, April 22: Alert TODAY link on April 27 morning “This relaxation to pa- allow inter-district move- days to enable stranded peo- The Union Cabinet has ap- on the way ahead in the tients will continue till lock- ment of migrant workers on ple, including students, to fight against coronavirus, GUWAHATI, April 22: proved Rs 15,000 crore for Alive TOMORROW official sources said today. Assam government has down. But they will have to those three days. move to their places of resi- ‘India COVID-19 Emergen- This will be the third decided to allow inter- get the approvals from the “Some workers are dence or work. cy Response and Health Sys- video conference of Modi district movement of cer- DCs. The e-passes will be stranded in different dis- “Anyone wanting to avail tem Preparedness Package’. tics and COVID-dedicatcd plemented under the overall with the chief ministers tain categories of people issued for round trips and the tricts and may want to move the ASTC service will have The funds sanctioned will treatment facilities, central- umbrella of the Ministry of during the COVID-19 on April 25, 26 and 27, patient must be in the vehi- to their homes, while some to dial 104. ASTC will inti- be utilised in three phases and ised procurement of essential Health and Family Welfare. emergency. – PTI but they will have to fol- cle,” Sarma said. may want to move to their mate them about the date of for immediate COVID-19 medical equipment and drugs In Phase 1, the Ministry of State aid low the Central govern- During those three days, workplaces. The employers journey and how they will be emergency response, an required for treatment of in- Health and Family Welfare GUWAHATI, April 22: ment guidelines and get people stranded in other dis- can transport the workers in transported. We may not be amount of Rs. 7,774 crore, has fected patients, strengthen with the support of all the Around 1,02,272 people of prior approval from the tricts can move to their their vehicles, following per- able to cater to all, but we been provisioned and rest for and build resilient National other line ministries has al- the State stranded outside respective Deputy Com- home district or to their mission from the DCs. Also, will give priority to elders, medium-term support (1-4 and State health systems to ready undertaken several were provided Rs 2,000 as missioners. work places in their vehi- during the movement, they women and students,” Sar- years) to be provided under support prevention and pre- activities. Additional funds to subsistence allowance. In Elaborating on the guide- cles. However, that also will will have to follow the Cen- ma said. mission mode approach. paredness for future disease the tune of Rs 3,000 crore addition, 34 people lines for the relaxation, require prior permission tral government guide- The Health Minister said stranded abroad have been Official sources said the key outbreaks, setting up of labo- have been released under the sent USD 1,000, while Rs Health Minister Himanta from the DCs who will is- lines,” Sarma said, adding the relaxation should not be objectives of the package in- ratories and bolster surveil- package to the States for 25,000 was transferred to Biswa Sarma said as medical sue a pass which will be val- that not more than 25 peo- interpreted as a “blanket clude mounting emergency lance activities, bio-security strengthening of existing the accounts of 717 colleges and hospitals will id for a day. “The DCs may ple will be allowed in one permission” and all move- response to slow and limit preparedness, pandemic re- health facilities. patients stranded in other open from April 24, the gov- regulate the movement on vehicle. ments will require DCs ap- COVID-19 in India through search. These interventions states. – Staff Reporter ernment will allow inter-dis- the three days,” he said. The ASTC will run buses proval. the development of diagnos- and initiatives would be im- SEE PAGE 6 Total tests GUWAHATI, April 22: There was no COVID-19 positive case in the State in the past week, Health Govt asks private schools to Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today. So far 5,789 tests were conducted waive off 50 pc fees for March in six State labs and it included samples sent by STAFF REPORTER thorities cannot curtail the sal- the fee for the month of neighbouring states. He aries of the teachers and non- March (which is collected in also said journalists can GUWAHATI, April 22: teaching staff of the schools. April) will have to adjust the avail free COVID-19 test at State government today The fee waiver will be ap- concession in next install- GMCH on April 25. – Staff asked all the private schools of plicable on the lump sum ment. On the other hand, Reporter Assam, across all educational amount of a month’s school schools willing to increase Office timing boards, to waive off 50 per cent fee, from pre-primary level to the concession rate, can do GUWAHATI, April 22: of the school fees for the month class XII. so,” the Minister stated. The Assam government of March. The schools also Sarma also warned that the It may be noted that all has allowed its employees cannot increase their fees with- private schools not complying schools and colleges of the belonging to Islam religion out prior permission from the with the directives will be State were closed from March to leave office at 4:30 pm, Government of Assam till the closed down under the Disas- 16, and all other activities came half an hour earlier than the scheduled time, COVID-19 induced situation ter Management Act. to a halt due to nationwide lock during Ramadan prevails. “We have talked to some down from March 24. commencing from April 24 State Education Minister of the schools who readily “The school fees cannot be subject to the condition Himanta Biswa Sarma today agreed to extend their sup- increased without permission that they will attend office told the mediapersons here port to this move. We are from the government. And in half an hour earlier i.e. at 9 that the step has been taken as confident that other private present situation granting any am. – Staff Reporter a goodwill gesture to provide schools would also willingly permission for fee hike is out US assertion some succor to all sections of comply, considering it as a to- of question,” he added. WASHINGTON, April Essential food items being distributed among the needy people during the nationwide lockdown, at Bakaliaghat on people amid the ongoing cri- ken of goodwill. Institutions 22: The World Health Wednesday. – UB Photos sis. However, the school au- that have already collected SEE PAGE 6 Organization has become a tool of ‘Chinese propaganda’, the Trump administration has alleged, asserting that the global Ordinance to punish those Fuel price hike health agency has lost all its credibility during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. temporary step: Govt The US is the largest attacking health care workers contributor to the Geneva- STAFF REPORTER down by more than half due posed by the State govern- headquartered world NEW DELHI, April 22: The Union asserting that the government has “zero The ordinance will amend the to the record slump in crude ment was a “temporary health body. – PTI Cabinet on Wednesday approved an tolerance” for violence and harassment Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and the GUWAHATI, April 22: oil prices, Finance Minister measure” to cover up some ordinance making acts of violence and against doctors, nurses, paramedics and amended law will also be invoked if health Citing that the royalties paid Himanta Biswa Sarma today revenue loss. JOCOSERIOUS harassment against healthcare personnel other healthcare personnel. care personnel face harassment from their by the oil companies will go said the hike in oil taxes im- “The pain has to be borne deployed in combating COVID-19 a non- In cases where injuries caused are landlords or neighbours over suspicion by everyone. In any case, bailable offence, meeting a key demand serious, the punishment will range from that they may carry the coronavirus people are staying indoors of health professionals in the wake of six months to seven years, and carry fine infection due to the nature of their work, and it will not impact the recent attacks on them while discharging between Rs 1 to 5 lakhs, the minister he said. common man much,” Sarma their duty. told reporters. An offence under the amended law will said when asked about yes- The maximum sentence be cognizable and non-bailable, terday’s decision to hike the under the new provision is COCOCO VID-19 sta tus in INDIA Javadekar said. More than 2,593,000 cases have been registered fuel taxes by more than Rs 5 seven years imprisonment “Our government has zero around the globe in the State.