The states in the south of the Vindhyas are relatively performing better than their counterparts in other parts of the nation.
Here are the top developments from the Southern Indian states:
1. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has written to the Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar to help the fishermen who have been struck in Iran since the nation imposed a lockdown to fight the virus. He said that about 650 out of the 1000 fishermen belong to the state of Tamil Nadu.
2. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy lashed out at the Centre for levying GST on medical equippments used to treat the virus. He called on the centre to waive off the tax which would facilitate cheaper and affordable treatment.
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3. Karnataka has decided to promulgate an ordinance, similar to that done by Kerala and Uttar Pradesh which would enable the frontline health workers to work effectively. This decision has been taken during the Cabinet meeting after some ASHA workers were attacked in Padarayanpura by a mob. This ordinance will empower the state to imprison and hand out punishments to those stopping the work related to COVID-19.
4. Air Arabia has decided to operate special flights from Hyderabad and Kochi amongst other Indian cities to take back stranded Emiratis.
5. A crematorium in Anna Nagar in Chennai witnessed tense moments when a funeral procession was stopped and attacked by the locals. Dr Simon Hercules who served the society selflessly was denied a dignified funeral after dying on Sunday by the very society he served. He had tested positive for the virus.
6. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has written to the Kerala government and warned them against permitting any sort of relaxation during the period of lockdown.
7. The Karnataka government which had earlier planned to ease restrictions have shelved their plans after a note from the Union Home Ministry warning against the move.
8. For the first time in its history, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike presented its budget via video conferencing.
9. Karnataka Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar has warned companies not to cut the salaries of their employees and has proposed strict penalties for the same.
10. Actor turned Politician Vijaykant in Tamil Nadu has offered land in his Engineering colleges to the state government to bury those who have died because of COVID-19.