New Delhi,  The Union Home Ministry, in an order on Friday, allowed shops of agricultural machinery and its spare parts to remain open during the national lockdown. Repair shops for trucks on highways have also been included in that list.

The tea industry has also got a reprieve on Friday. Tea industry, including plantations, with a maximum of 50 per cent workers were also exempted, in an order by the MHA.

The Home Secretary, in his capacity of the Chairperson of the National Executive Committee under the Disaster Management Act made these changes. All Chief Secretaries of states and UTs as well as other Union government ministries were informed about the decision.

The decision seems to have been taken in view of the urgent need for trucks to ply normally, given they carry most of the essentials including vegetables and grains.

India is amid a nationwide shutdown for 21 days where all services are suspended save few essentials. This extreme decision was necessitated in wake of the outbreak of Covid-19 in India.