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The Maharashtra government has off lately faced a lot of pressure from taxi and auto rickshaw unions for curbing Ola and Uber, the app-based taxi aggregators in Mumbai city, owing to which the government might soon take some action. 
 
The reason, some say, is that the government doesn’t want to offending such a large number of taxi and auto rickshaw drivers, looking at the political cost that it might have to pay for this later. 
 
"There are 1lakh auto rickshaw drivers in the city and about 30,000 taxi drivers, so if each driver has a family of three, then the number comes to around 5 lakh people. So you are antagonising five lakh voters during the civic elections in Mumbai and Thane," a government official told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/maharashtra-may-put-curbs-on-app-based-taxi-aggregators-ola-uber/articleshow/53409989.cms">ET</a>. "We are working on a plan where taxi and autos also operate like Uber and Ola with flexible fare structures," he added. 
 It was because of an assurance from the government that one of these unions called off a strike that was scheduled from yesterday. However, needless to say, executives from Uber and Ola were also not going to sit quietly, because of which they have sought an appointment with CM <keyword id="6355042" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Devendra-Fadnavis">Devendra Fadnavis</keyword>. 
 
<a href="http://d152j5tfobgaot.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/yourstory-mumbai-taxi.png">Image source</a>

Maharashta might limit Ola and Uber operations in Mumbai

An association of owners and drivers of taxis and autos protested at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, demanding inquiry and action against cab aggregator companies like Uber and Ola. 
 As per the newly-formed "<keyword id="3434885" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jai-Bhagwan-Taxi-Rickshaw-Sanghatana">Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sanghatana</keyword>," the transport charge of Rs 6 per km which is being offered by these aggregators is not fair since the rate is fixed at Rs 8 per km. 
 
The association also alleged that the government has joined hands with these service providers, conspiring to wipe off taxis and rickshaws from Mumbai roads. 
 Association president <keyword id="3434894" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bala-Sanap">Bala Sanap</keyword> threatened that he would take taxis off roads from July 26 in case the government fails to order an inquiry against these aggregators. 
 
However, the Mumbai Taximen's Union, which is one of Mumbai’s largest unions, did not participate in the protest. 
 
<a href="http://images.indianexpress.com/2015/06/auto-strike.jpg">Image source</a>

Mumbai’s taxi and auto drivers’ aassociation is not happy with Ola and Uber’s low rates

Nearly 35,000 traditional <keyword id="1363622" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kaali-Peeli">kaali-peeli</keyword> cabs in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=mumbai">Mumbai </a>have ditched the traditional route and have decided to take on two of their biggest competitors- <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-is-going-for-the-kill-Uber-already-sees-it-as-competition/articleshow/49088741.cms">Ola</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=uber">Uber</a> head-on by launching an app of their own. 
 Embracing the onslaught of technology enabled businesses, two major taxi unions in Mumbai and have come together and launched its very own app called <keyword id="3202744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="9211">9211</keyword>, which will be offering instant cab services at government approved rates, no less, which is Rs 22 for the first 1.5 km. 
 Similar to how <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword>’s app work, 9211 will also allow users the facility of locating and booking cabs near them. 
 
According to Prem Singh, the leader of Mumbai Taxi Association, all 35,000 kaali-peeli drivers will be asked to enroll themselves on the app. 
 
The app is expected to be state of the art and come built with safety features, such as an SOS button and GPS tracking, while all movements of the cabs are to be monitored via a centralized control room. 
 
As the venture is in its initial stage, unions have decided to take only cash payment at the moment but officials have indicated that they will soon come up with an online payment option as well. 
 While this launch is an extremely positive sign of traditional old businesses adapting to modern scenarios and opening their eyes to the wonders of technology, it’s still left to see whether the move will actually turn out to be profitable for the cab owners or manage to disrupt even a little of the two <keyword id="6524998" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cab-aggregators">cab aggregators</keyword>’ loyal customer base. 
 
Granted the kaali peeli cabs have number on their side with a fleet of 35,000 cabs, but what will seal the case in their favour is the ease of transactions on the app and how convenient and efficient the experience is, as compared to an Uber or an Ola. 
 
It’s also interesting to note that just last year Ola had tried its level best to incorporate these Kaali-Peeli cabs into their network and has also launched cash payment to attract customers. However, the idea didn’t take off with a meagre 2500 cabs signing up. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Mumbai’s
kaali-peeli cabs just launched an app, but is it enough to counter Ola and Uber?

(Eds: Combining related stories) New Delhi, May 1 () India will now be under lockdown till May 17 with a complete ban on air travel, trains and inter-state road transport for the general public while educational institutions, theatres, malls, hotels and bars will also remain shut, the government announced on Friday but gave some relaxations for various business activities and people's movement within areas with limited or no COVID-19 cases. The decision to extend the lockdown by two more weeks after May 3, when the second phase of these restrictions was scheduled to end, came amid a continuous rise in the number of people testing positive for the deadly virus infection across various states, including in major metropolitans, with the nationwide tally crossing 35,000. The death toll has crossed 1,100. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had first announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown from May 25, which was later extended by two more weeks to contain the virus spread. However, several experts have cautioned that the lockdown is severely impacting economy and many rating agencies and industry bodies have forecast a sharp dip in the country's economic growth rate for the current fiscal with a few even estimating an overall GDP decline. All major urban centres including Delhi and Mumbai have been identified as 'red zones' or areas with large numbers of cases and therefore not much relaxations would be applicable to them beyond already permitted ones for those involved in essential services. Special trains also began operating during the day, which also happened to be the Labour Day, to help lakhs of migrant workers stranded for over a month at various urban centres due to the lockdown with many of them having rendered jobless and homeless, reach their native places, including in different states. Separately, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat announced at a special press brieing, along with the three service chiefs, that the armed forces will express their gratitude to all "corona warriors" on Sunday by conducting fly-pasts, showering petals on hospitals treating COVID-19 patients and illuminating naval vessels. Besides, the Army will conduct mountain band displays along some COVID-19 hospitals in almost every district. Rawat also said it is not proper to conclude that the novel coronavirus outbreak is a result of biological warfare. US President Donald Trump had earlier said that the deadly virus originated from a virology lab in China's Wuhan city before it spread across the world and claimed over 233,000 lives and shattered global economies. But Trump's comments undercut a rare public statement from his own intelligence community, which stated no such assessment has been made by them whether the COVID-19 outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan. While several countries including Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, Austria and various states of the US have begun easing their respective lockdowns, India has decided to implement the third phase of its own lockdown, while providing specific relaxations to less affected and 'virus-free' areas by classifying districts and cities into red, orange and green zones. But, some activities will remain prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the zone, and these include air travel, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road, running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training hospitality services, cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, as per an order issued by the Union Home Ministry. All social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings and religious places or places of worship for public will also remain shut, the order said. Outside the containment zone falling within red zones, certain more activities are prohibited in addition to those banned throughout the country and these include plying of cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, running of taxis and cab aggregators, intra-district and inter-district plying of buses, as also barber shops, spas and saloons. Activities allowed in red zones with restrictions would include movement of individuals and vehicles for permitted activities, with a maximum of two persons (besides the driver) in four-wheelers and with no pillion rider in two-wheelers. Industrial establishments in urban areas including Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Export Oriented Units (EOUs), industrial estates and industrial townships with access control have been permitted. Construction activities in urban areas will be limited to in-situ construction (where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside) and construction of renewable energy projects. Shops in urban areas, for non-essential goods, are not allowed in malls, markets and market complexes. However, all standalone shops, neighbourhood shops and shops in residential complexes are permitted to remain open in urban areas, without any distinction of essential and non-essential. E-Commerce activities in red zones are permitted only for essential goods. Private offices can operate with up to 33 per cent strength as per requirement, with the remaining persons working from home. All government offices can function with senior officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above at full strength, and up to one-third of remaining staff. Commercial and private establishments allowed in red zones include print and electronic media, IT and IT enabled services, data and call centres, cold storage and warehousing services, private security and facility management services, and services provided by self-employed persons, except for barbers. In orange zones, taxis and cab aggregators will also be permitted with one driver and one passenger only, while inter-district movement of individuals and vehicles will be allowed for permitted activities only. Four-wheeler vehicles will have maximum two passengers besides the driver and pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers. In green zones, all activities are permitted except those prohibited throughout the country irrespective of the zone. However buses and bus depots can operate with maximum 50 per cent capacity. Earlier in the day, the Union Health Ministry listed 130 districts in the country in red zone, 284 in orange zone and 319 in green zone. This classification of districts is to be followed by states and UTs till May 10 and the will be revised on a weekly basis or earlier if required, Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad have been designated as red zones in the new classification. A district will be considered under green zone if there has been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far or there is no reported case since last 21 days in the district. Red zone districts are those considered to be infection 'hotspots', decided on the basis of number of active cases, doubling rate of confirmed cases and extent of testing and surveillance feedback. Districts which are neither defined as a red or green zone, would be considered as an orange zone. The Health Ministry also said India has ramped up production of COVID-19 protective gears and medical equipment to reduce its dependence on foreign countries for these items which are in high demand globally due to the pandemic. In its evening update, the Ministry said the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India has risen to 35,365 with 1,152 deaths, while 9,065 people have so far recovered. ACB SKL MPB ASK PLB BJBJ

COVID-19: Lockdown extended for two more weeks; 'Considerable relaxations' for safer zones

<ul><li>In Mumbai, almost <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/uber-ola-drivers-on-strike-heres-the-impact-on-different-cities/articleshow/63361106.cms">60,000 cabs are reportedly off the roads</a> in the city today leaving most commuters stranded. </li><li>The companies initially offered huge overhead payouts to them, but now takes approximately 25% cut from each of their trips. </li><li><keyword id="488032" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-Navnirman-Vahatuk-Sena">Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena</keyword> has reached out to the police to get the ‘decision makers’ from these companies to meet them and the government, in order to come to an amicable decision </li></ul><keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> drivers have gone on an indefinite strike starting midnight 18 March, organised by the <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS). Though the strike is primarily affecting commuters in Mumbai, there have been some instances of cab unavailability in Delhi and Bangalore too. In Mumbai, almost <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/uber-ola-drivers-on-strike-heres-the-impact-on-different-cities/articleshow/63361106.cms">60,000 cabs are reportedly off the roads</a> in the city today leaving most commuters stranded. We spoke to a couple of drivers in Delhi who seemed to be blissfully unaware of the strike and claim they are happy and have 'no problem' with the company. Uber itself says that only Mumbai and Pune have been affected by the strikes and it’s business as usual in other cities. In a statement to the press, an Uber spokesperson said: We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community by a small group of individuals. We remain committed to serving the city, ensuring driver partners can continue to access stable earning opportunities, while giving riders a convenient option to get around their city. The Hon’ble Bombay High Court issued an injunction prohibiting unions, their leaders and anybody else from obstructing the activities of Uber driver partners. We welcome this, and hope that it will enable drivers to stay behind the wheel, something many have been telling us they wish to do. We have been listening to our driver partners all along and are committed to ensuring that Uber remains an attractive entrepreneurial opportunity for them. While the authorities have taken steps to ensure minimal disruption to our rider and driver communities, we hope that they will continue to enforce the order passed by the High Court. However, it's no secret that disgruntled cab drivers who bought in on the rosy picture painted by Uber and Ola, promising a lucrative career and a chance to squeeze into the middle class have today realised that it was nothing but a pipe dream. Initially promised earnings over a lakh per month, people from various walks of lives decided to give up their full-time jobs and even land to cash-in on this. However, today these drivers are finding it difficult to scrounge up enough money to pay up the loans taken to buy their cars. But this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this story. Drivers in India have been complaining about reduced incentives and overall earnings from Uber and Ola for a while now. The companies initially offered huge overhead payouts to them, but now takes approximately 25% cut from each of their trips. While both companies still do have some incentives in place, drivers say they are more difficult to achieve and working for Uber and Ola isn’t the “joyride” it once used to be. Examples overseas... When strikes against Uber first broke out in London back in 2016, Uber’s impact on Black Cab drivers’ income was one of the cornerstones of the movement. “Unite, the union that represents many black-cab drivers, claims the government is biased against their trade and claims light-touch regulation will threaten passenger safety as well as drivers’ incomes,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/10/black-cab-drivers-uber-protest-london-traffic-standstill">the Guardian</a> wrote at the time. These strikes have become somewhat commonplace and except for one big win for Uber drivers in the UK in November last year, the results, for the drivers at least, have always been wanting. In the UK, a panel ruled that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/11/10/british-panels-rules-uber-drivers-employees-not-contractors/851388001/">Uber drivers are employees and not contractors</a>, and therefore entitled to basic protections such as minimum wage and vacation pay. In September last year, Uber was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/22/uber-licence-transport-for-london-tfl">denied the licence to operate by Transport for London</a> (TfL) claiming that the company was not a “fit and proper” operator. Uber’s failure to report ‘serious criminal offences, obtaining medical certificates and driver background checks’ was the main reason behind this decision. This move affected the 40,000 people who worked for Uber, not to mention its 3.5 million users. In 2015, local <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/24/rio-de-janeiro-uber-protest-taxis">cab drivers in Rio de Janeiro protested against Uber</a> because they claimed they were the “official” drivers who were strictly regulated and fewer overhead costs gave them a ‘competitive advantage’. In 2016, Uber decided to cease operations in Austin, Texas because it didn’t find it feasible to comply with the regulation to fingerprint and run thorough background checks on all its drivers. In 2014, both Berlin and Hamburg, Germany voted to ban Uber because it did not <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/14/uber-taxi-service-banned-berlin-safety-grounds">‘do enough to protect its passengers from unlicensed drivers’</a>. The common thread of grievance is a predictable trio -- local taxi operators revolting against Uber’s competitive advantage, security concerns based on Uber’s slack regulation over the choice of drivers with regards to proper background checks, and unethical treatment of drivers. All of these complaints have been cited in India as well, but this is the second time such protests have sprung in as many years. Last year, the Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD) called for a strike in Delhi against Uber and Ola on similar grounds, though the companies escaped unscathed at the time. Taking cues... The current strike in India hopes to achieve similar results. “This time things will be different because they have partnered with us,” says <keyword id="165480" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjay-Naik">Sanjay Naik</keyword>, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNVS) transport wing. He believes that the <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-taxi-rules-discriminates-between-black-and-yellow-cabs-and-app-based-taxi-services-bombay-hc-4780461/">privileges that are mandated by law to the Mumbai Kaali Peeli’ (black-and-yellow) taxi drivers</a> should also be applicable to Ola and Uber cabs so that all drivers can benefit from them. He wants the implementation of the <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/some-relief-for-cab-taxi-operators-in-maharashtra/article9921977.ece">BC Khatua Committee’s proposal</a> that includes ‘relaxation of several provisions of the Maharashtra City Taxi Scheme, including lowering the permit fees for all types of cars to a flat ₹10,000 instead of a graded system ranging from ₹75,000 to ₹2.6 lakh under the City Taxi rules.’ He also accused the companies of giving preference to cabs owned by the companies instead of driver-owned cabs. In India, Uber offers to buy cabs that are then passed on to drivers. Drivers effectively work off their debt to the company, by paying a monthly instalment to them. What Naik is insinuating is that Uber gives these drivers more rides than those who register their own cars on the service. What is most interesting, however, is that MNVS hasn’t ruled out going into business for themselves. Naik told us that if things don’t work out, they will consider bringing all the drivers together under one umbrella and take out the middlemen (Ola and Uber). However, for now, the organisation has reached out to the police to get the ‘decision makers’ from these companies to meet them and the government, in order to come to an amicable decision that will not only benefit the drivers monetarily but also implement regulations so that all drivers come under the same law and benefit from it. With the predictable spate of grievances by Uber drivers, commuters and local taxi operators, will Maharashtra take a cue from international events and tighten the leash on the private taxi operators? If it does, will that, in turn, set the precedent for the rest of the country? UPDATE: Ola shared the statement below with us today. “Interest of our driver partners and customer convenience is of paramount importance to us. While, we have seen a slight improvement in our services in Mumbai, however for the situation to improve significantly it is imperative that intimidation of driver partners and vandalism of their cars by vested interests be stopped. New economy companies like us are counting on the police for normalcy to return.”

Indian drivers may finally be taking cues from global movements against on-demand cab services

By Achinta Borah New Delhi, May 15 () Greater relaxations and flexibility will be seen in the lockdown 4.0, which will begin on Monday, with gradual reopening of the railways and domestic airlines while powers will be given to States and UTs to define their hotspots, officials said on Friday. Schools, colleges, malls and cinema halls will not be allowed to open anywhere in the country but salons, barber shops and optical shops may be allowed in red zones, barring COVID-19 containment areas. There will be lots of relaxations and flexibility in the lockdown 4.0 with complete reopening of the green zones, very limited curb in orange zones and strict restrictions only in the containment areas of red zones, said an official privy to the deliberations in the central government. However, the final guidelines will be issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs only after going through the suggestions of state governments. The state governments and union territory administrations have been asked to submit their recommendations by Friday. According to officials, Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Assam and Telangana wanted the lockdown to be continued, some of them wanted the powers to decide the zoning of districts -- green, orange and red -- as per the COVID-19 situation. This request of the state governments may be accepted so that they can restrict or allow movement of people or economic activities in a particular place depending on the ground situation, the official told . Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, had said that the lockdown 4.0 will have a "completely different form", with new rules. "No state wants complete withdrawal of lockdown but all want gradual resumption of economic activities," the official said. Gradual and need-based operations of the railways and domestic airlines are likely to be allowed from next week but full-fledged opening of the two sectors is unlikely to take place immediately. Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka were among some states which were not in favour of complete resumption of train and air services, at least till May-end, the official said. The railways have already started special trains to 15 destinations from Delhi and have been running several hundred 'Shramik Special' trains from different parts of the country to various places for transportation of migrant workers stranded due to the lockdown. The Air India is also engaged in evacuation of thousands of Indians stranded abroad during the lockdown under the 'Vande Bharat Mission'. Local trains, buses and metro services may start running with limited capacity in non-containment areas of red zones. Autos and taxis are also expected to be allowed in red zones with restrictions on the number of passengers. Most of these services will be allowed within the districts in non-containment areas and state governments may be authorised to take a call on their reopening, another official said. Powers to open markets in orange and red zones may be given to state governments, which may follow the odd-even policy while allowing shops of non-essential goods to open. E-commerce platforms may be allowed to deliver non-essential items even in red zones, barring the containment areas. Sale of non-essential items by e-commerce companies have already allowed in green and orange zones. Maharashtra, which the has highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths from the virus, wants a strict lockdown measures in Mumbai, its suburbs and Pune, and complete stop of inter-state and inter-district transport of any kind. Whereas, Gujarat with second highest number of positive cases wants resumption of economic activities in major urban centres. States which are in favour of opening up of economic activities include Delhi, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the official said. Kerala is believed to have suggested reopening of restaurants and hotels to revive the tourism sector. Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, which have seen spike in the COVID-19 cases after arrival of migrant workers, want continuation of lockdown with strict curbs on movement of people. Lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic. It was first extended till May 3 and again till May 17. ACB SMNSMN

Greater relaxations in lockdown 4.0; States, UTs to be empowered to take decisions on curbs

(Eds: Combining related stories) New Delhi, May 18 () The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases crossed one lakh on Monday with more people testing positive for the deadly virus in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and other states, even as a much-relaxed fourth phase of the lockdown began with restarting of market complexes, autos, taxis and inter-state buses in various parts of the country. The death toll due to COVID-19 crossed the 3,000-mark too. With an aim to reboot numerous locked down economic activities, authorities across the country ordered reopening of markets, intra-state transport services and even of barber shops and salons in some states, barring in containment zones. However, schools, colleges, theatres, malls and religious gatherings are among those that would remain shut down, at least till May 31. India has been under a lockdown since March 25, which was first supposed to be for 21 days or toll April 14, but was later extended till May 3, then further till May 17 and now for another two weeks till May 31. However, a number of relaxations have been given in the current fourth phase, while states and union territories have also been granted significant flexibility for deciding the red, orange or green zones in terms of the quantum and severity of the virus spread. In its morning 8 AM update, the Union Health Ministry put the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases 96,169 and the death toll at 3,029. It also said that 36,824 people have so far recovered from the infection. However, a tally of figures announced by different states and UTs as of 9.40 PM put the number of those having tested positive for the infection at 1,00,096, with a death toll of 3,078 and recoveries at 38,596 across the country. Maharashtra topped the nationwide tally with over 35,000 confirmed cases and 1,249 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 11,760 confirmed cases and 81 deaths. Gujarat has also reported 11,746 confirmed cases, while its death toll is higher than that of Tamil Nadu at 694. Delhi has also crossed the 10,000 mark in terms of the number of confirmed cases, while its death toll has now reached 160. Gujarat, during the day, recorded 366 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths, including 31 from the worst-hit Ahmedabad, taking the state's case count to 11,746 and the number of fatalities to 694, a health department official said. Maharashtra reported 2,033 new cases, taking the tally to 35,058. This was the second consecutive day when the state has reported more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases. Mumbai alone reported 1,185 fresh cases and 23 more deaths, taking the total count of the city to 21,152 and the fatalities to 757. Of the 1,185 new cases, 300 samples were tested positive in private laboratories between May 12 and 16. Kerala also saw 29 new cases -- all but one being returnees from overseas and other states -- raising concerns about the state witnessing a possible third wave of the dreaded virus infection. The state was first to report the virus infection, but at least twice it has already been seen as having flattened the curve of the infection. The nationwide count of confirmed infections incidentally crossed the crucial one-lakh mark on a day when the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown kicked in with several relaxations for economic and public activities, barring in containment zones or areas identified as serious hotspots of the virus infection. Revising its strategy for COVID-19 testing, ICMR also said on Monday that returnees and migrants who show symptoms for influenza-like illness will be tested for coronavirus infection within seven days of ailment and stressed that no emergency clinical procedure, including deliveries, should be delayed for lack of testing. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in its revised strategy for coronavirus testing in India also added that all hospitalised patients who develop symptoms for influenza-like illness (ILI) and frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation of COVID-19 having such signs will also be tested for coronavirus infection through RT-PCR test. Besides, asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case are to be tested once between day five and day 10 of coming in contact, the new document stated. Asymptomatic contacts of a confirmed case were being tested once between day five and day 14. The Health Ministry also said that for every one lakh population, there are 7.1 coronavirus cases in India so far as against 60 globally. It also said the recovery rate of coronavirus cases in India stood at 38.39 per cent. Besides, India also joined nearly 120 countries at a crucial conference of the World Health Organisation in pushing for an impartial and comprehensive evaluation of the global response into the coronavirus crisis as well as to examine the origin of the deadly infection. Since the first case of the deadly coronavirus was reported in China last December, more than 47 lakh people have tested for this virus across the world and over 3 lakh have lost their lives. India is the 11th most affected country, while the US tops the chart with over 14.9 lakh confirmed cases so far. China's official tally of confirmed infections is less than 84,000, while it has reported more than 4,600 deaths. PM PLB MPB KA PD ND ACB BJBJ

India's COVID-19 tally crosses 1-lakh mark; Lockdown 4.0 brings in several relaxations

(Eds: Combining related stories) New Delhi, May 15 () The nationwide tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases crossed 85,000 on Friday with more people testing positive for the deadly virus infection from Kashmir to Kerala and from Karnataka to Bihar, even as indications emerged about greater relaxations in the fourth phase of the lockdown beginning Monday to contain economic costs of the pandemic. Going by the numbers declared by different states and union territories, India has now surpassed China's official tally of 82,933 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Though some new cases have emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan -- the epicentre of the deadly virus -- less than 100 people are now undergoing treatment across China, which recorded 4,633 deaths due to COVID-19 but more than 78,000 have been discharged after recovery, as per their official data. Globally, more than 3 lakh people have died and nearly 45 lakh have tested positive for the deadly virus since its emergence in Wuhan last December. While China and several other countries have begun reopening their economies, fresh concerns have begun mounting about a possible re-emergence of the virus. India is now the 11th most affected nation in the world, but each one of the top-ten have one lakh or more cases. The US tops the charts with more than 14 lakh cases, followed by Russia, UK, Spain, Italy and Brazil with over 2 lakh cases each; and France, Germany, Turkey and Iran having over 1 lakh cases each. In its morning 8 AM update, the Union Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 across India has risen to 2,649 and the number of cases has climbed to 81,970, registering an increase of 100 deaths and 3,967 cases in the last 24 hours since Thursday morning. There are more than 51,000 active cases, while nearly 28,000 have recovered, giving a recovery rate of over 34 per cent. However, a tally of numbers reported by states and UTs, as of 9 PM, put the total number of confirmed cases across the country much higher at 85,538. This also showed at least 2,679 deaths and nearly 30,000 recoveries. Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Bihar and Karnataka breached the 1,000-mark in terms of the number of people having tested positive, while testing and containment measures were ramped up in places like, Kerala, Goa and Manipur that were being seen as being mostly virus-free till a few days back. Even a quarantine centre had to be sealed in Manipur. On the other hand, large numbers of cases continued to get detected in big urban clusters. Maharashtra, the most-affected state, reported 1,576 new cases to take its tally to 29,100, while its death toll rose to 1,068. Tamil Nadu crossed the 10,000 mark with 434 new cases, while Gujarat saw 340 more people testing positive to push its tally to 9,932. According to the Union Health Ministry, 30 municipal areas account for 79 per cent of India's coronavirus infection caseload. At a meeting of a group of ministers chaired by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, it was stressed that the focus of COVID-19 management strategy needs to be on the states with the highest number of confirmed cases and fatalities. Also, focus is needed on treatment and case fatality management, for which timely detection and contact tracing were the best way forward. The Finance Ministry in the meantime unveiled the third booster dose, mainly consisting of measures aimed at helping farmers and for reforms in agriculture and allied sectors, of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Rs 20 lakh crore 'special package' for making India self-reliant in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Modi said the third tranche will help the rural economy and boost farmers' income. India has been under a lockdown since March 25, which was initially scheduled to end on April 14 but has got extended twice -- first till May 3 and then till May 17 with some relaxations. A final decision on the fourth phase is expected soon, but officials said there could be greater relaxations and more flexibility for states and union territories while measures being explored include gradual reopening of the railways and domestic airlines. Schools, colleges, malls and cinema halls may not be allowed to open anywhere in the country, but salons, barber shops and optical shops may be allowed everywhere barring COVID-19 containment areas. E-retailers may be allowed to deliver non-essential items too. Final guidelines will be issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs after going through the suggestions of various state governments. During his last interaction with chief ministers, Modi had asked them to submit their suggestions by May 15. According to officials, Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Assam and Telangana want the lockdown to continue, while some states have sought powers to decide the zoning of districts -- green, orange and red -- as per the COVID-19 situation. This request of the state governments may be accepted so that they can restrict or allow movement of people or economic activities in a particular place depending on the ground situation, an official told . Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, had said that the lockdown 4.0 will have a "completely different form", with new rules. "No state wants complete withdrawal of lockdown but all want gradual resumption of economic activities," the official said. Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka are among some states which are not in favour of complete resumption of train and air services, at least till May-end. The railways have already started special trains to 15 destinations from Delhi and have been running several hundred 'Shramik Special' trains from different parts of the country to various places for transportation of migrant workers stranded due to the lockdown. Air India is also engaged in evacuation of thousands of Indians stranded abroad during the lockdown under the 'Vande Bharat Mission'. However, there have been cases of people testing positive after reaching their native places using these trains and flights. Officials said local trains, buses and metro services may start running with limited capacity in non-containment areas of red zones. Autos and taxis are also expected to be allowed in all zones with restrictions on the number of passengers, barring areas identified as 'containment zones'. Maharashtra has favoured strict lockdown measures in Mumbai, its suburbs and Pune, and a complete ban on inter-state and inter-district transport. However, Gujarat wants resumption of economic activities in major urban centres. Delhi, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have also favoured opening up of economic activities. Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, which have seen a spike in the COVID-19 cases after arrival of migrant workers, want the lockdown to continue with strict curbs on movement of people. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has urged Modi not to open state boundaries for the next few months, except for migrants or essential services. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the state has written to the Centre urging extension of the lockdown by two more weeks. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the Centre may announce many relaxations in the lockdown after May 17. The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to resume state transport bus service to various destinations from May 18, while the Haryana Roadways has already resumed bus services on select routes within the state. 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