Lok Sabha Question No. 318 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: NDMA Guidelines on Lockdown
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed, Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 318

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020/ BHADRAPADA 24, 1942 (SAKA)

NDMA GUIDELINES ON LOCKDOWN

318. SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority(NDMA)  is continuously issuing guidelines about the lockdown in the country due to Covid-19;
- (b)  if  so,  the  extent  to  which  the  lockdown  and  unlock  have  been helpful in restricting the spread of the disease;
- (c) whether NDMA has chalked out any plan in consultation with State Disaster Management Authorities to restrict the disease;
- (d) whether States are free to take steps in their respective States in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the future plan of the NDMA in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a): In  terms  of  Section  6  (2)  (i)  of  the  Disaster  Management  Act, 2005 (DM Act, 2005), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), on  being  satisfied  that  the  country  is  threatened  by  the  spread  of COVID - 19 pandemic, has been directing Union Home Secretary, being

## L.S.US.Q.NO.318 FOR 15.09.2020

the  Chairperson  of  the  National  Executive  Committee  (NEC),  to  take measures  and  to  issue  necessary  guidelines  so  as  to  prevent  the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Accordingly, NEC has been issuing guidelines about the Lockdown and Unlock phases in the country from time to time.

(b):  By  imposing  country-wide  Lockdown,  India  successfully  blunted the  aggressive  spread  of  COVID-19.  The  period  of  Lockdown  helped the  nation  create  much  required  additional  health  infrastructure. During this time, dedicated isolation beds recorded an increase of 22 times  and  dedicated  ICU  beds  above  14  times  to  what  existed  in March  2020.  Similarly,  laboratory  capacity  for  testing  COVID-19  was increased  nearly  10  times  during  this  time.  Whereas  there  was  no indigenous  manufacturing  of  Personal  Protective  Equipments  (PPE), with the requisite standards, at that point in time, the country is now self-sufficient  and  in  a  position  to  export  the  same.  Similarly,  the limited indigenous  manufacturing  capacity  available for    masks, ventilators, etc, at the time of Lockdown, was also enhanced to attain self-reliance in this regard.  During this period, requirement of various cadres of personnel and volunteers across sectors and departments

## L.S.US.Q.NO.318 FOR 15.09.2020

for  COVID-19  related  works  and  maintenance  of  other  essential medical services was worked out, and trained through resources made available on the website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and iGOT, an online platform (https://igot.gov.in/igot/). It has been estimated that the decision of Lockdown, by slowing down the spread of  pandemic  in  India,  has  prevented  14-29  lakh  cases  and  37-78 thousand deaths.

(c): Government of India has taken a series of comprehensive actions to prevent, control and mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Hon'ble Prime Minister,  a  High  level  Group  of  Ministers  (GoM),  Cabinet  Secretary, Committee of Secretaries and senior officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs,  NDMA,  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  and  other Ministries/Departments  concerned  continue  to  monitor  public  health response to COVID-19 in the country.

(d) and (e): States are free to take steps for restricting the disease in their  respective  States  subject  to  compliance  with  the  guidelines issued by the National Executive Committee as per recommendations of the NDMA.

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