States also given power to allow cinema halls, swimming pools
Union Home Ministry on Wednesday allowed the opening of colleges, schools, cinema hall with 50 per cent occupancy from October 15 and given the power to the States to take a call.
Exhibition halls and swimming pools used for sports training can also be opened now. However, entertainment parks will remain closed.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ new guidelines titled “guidelines for re-opening” has given powers to States for opening up the education and entertainment sector. In the case of schools, the guidelines said the students may prefer online and attendance should not be mandatory if someone can’t come to schools physically. The students must obtain parental consent for coming to school campuses.
The UGC has already said colleges and universities will only open from November 1.
The States were given flexibility to increase the gathering of people above 100 for social, political and religious gathering subject to strict social distancing norms. If functions are conducted in halls, maximum number allowed is 200 persons but it should not exceed 50 per cent of the seating capacity.
“Activities permitted from October 15, 2020, in areas outside the containment zones: Cinemas/theatres/multiplexes will be permitted to open with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity, for which, SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions will be permitted to open, for which, SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce.
“Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S). Entertainment parks and similar places will be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW),” said the MHA’s “guidelines for re-opening”.
For re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, State/ UT Governments have been given the flexibility to take a decision after October 15 in a graded manner. “The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/ institution management, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to the following conditions: Online/ distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged. Where schools are conducting online classes, and some students prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted to do so. Students may attend schools/ institutions only with the written consent of parents. Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent,” said the new guidelines.
“However, higher education institutions only for research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted to open from October 15, 2020, as under: For Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions, the Head of Institution will satisfy herself/himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream for laboratory/experimental works.
“For all other higher education institutions eg State universities, private universities etc., they may open only for research scholars (PhD) and postgraduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/experimental works as per decision to be taken by the respective State/UT Governments,” said the guidelines.
