New Unlock Guidelines: MHA lets states decide on education

NEW DELHI: With COVID-19 cases on decline across India and the first phase of vaccination under way, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has allowed all activities outside containment zones in its unlock guidelines for February.

The home ministry has left it to the states to decide on issuing SOP (standard operating procedures) for educational institutions for allowing more than 200 people in a closed space.This has been the Centre’s stand since October 2020.

The MHA has asked states to continue to enforce containment measures and SOPs on various activities and to promote COVID-19-appropriate behaviour.

“It is...emphasised that to fully overcome the pandemic, there is need to maintain caution and to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy focussed on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines issued by MHA and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW),” reads the guidelines.

MHA guidelines

In its previous guidelines, the MHA permitted up to a maximum of 50 percent of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces for education, religious sports and other gatherings. Now such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the state and union territory concerned.

Most of the states have reopened schools and colleges located in their state or have planned to reopen from February 1 in a phased manner. The University Grants Commission (UGC) on November 5, issued guidelines related to reopening of colleges and universities.

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