KATHMANDU, March 29: A cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence, Baluwatar, has taken various decisions ranging from extending lockdown period by one week to providing relief packages to affected ones.
Major decisions have been enlisted as follows:
1. Suspension of the cross-border people's movement through Nepal-India and Nepal-China border points has been extended until April 7. However, supply of essential goods will be allowed through the border points as usual.
2. Lockdown order has been extended until April 7.
3. Relief package has been introduced as follows:
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a. Local levels should collect the details of the daily wages laborers involved in informal sector
b. The families should go to their ward offices and introduce themselves to get relief assistance
c. Local levels should provide relief so that it will help the victims fulfil their daily needs during this lockdown period by setting up the relief fund in local or provincial level. If the required amount is insufficient, the federal government will arrange the additional fund.
d. Respective employer should pay wages and salaries to the employees involved in formal sector.
e. Tourism firms should pay the employees with the salary of March-April (Chaitra) by using the welfare fund. The government will deposit the necessary amount to the Social Security Fund in case of those firms who have completely closed due to this lockdown.
f. Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading should offer 10 percent discount on rice, flour, sugar, salt and cooking oil.
g. Telecommunication and internet service providers should provide 25 percent discount on internet and data packages during this lockdown period.
h. Nepal Electricity Authority should provide 25% discount to domestic consumers upon the usage up to 150 units a month.
i. Insurance of Rs 2.5 million to those medics and other staffs involving in treating and caring the COVID19 patients or suspect patients.
j. Private schools should not charge the fee for one month except for residential fees.
k. Houseowners should not charge the house fare of one month to those tenants working in informal sectors.
l. Tax clearance deadline has been extended until May 7.
