Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a video conference today with Chief Ministers; the meeting will focus on a strategy for a phased exit from the lockdown.
Modi’s discussions are expected to revolve on steps for reviving the battered economy and scaling up all efforts to bring more ‘red’ zones with high COVID-19 case load into ‘orange’ or ‘green’ zones, as the country pushes for stepping up economic activities in a calibrated manner. Sources in Chennai said Tamilnadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will highlight key points regarding the State.
The Centre also weighed the pros and cons of further easing of restrictions for a graded exit from the twice-extended lockdown, which is due to end on 17 May, but restrictions are unlikely to be withdrawn in one go. The meeting will commence at 3 pm, and this will be Modi’s fifth interaction with the chief ministers since the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
In his previous meeting with the Chief Ministers on 27 April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country will have to give importance to the economy as well as continue the fight against the novel coronavirus. In a video conference with the Chief Ministers, Modi had highlighted the importance for states to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in the coronavirus hotspots.
He said everyone’s aim must be to ensure rapid response under the current circumstances. He emphasised on the importance of the use of technology as much as possible, and also to utilise the time to embrace reform measures.