Chennai: With the Covid caseload on the decline, the cash-starved Tamil Nadu government is opening up state-owned TASMAC liquor shops while extending the lockdown by easing the restrictions in 27 districts for another week till June 21. Coming into force from June 14, the new relaxations, including the functioning of salons and beauty parlours, are in addition to the existing ones that have been allowed. TASMAC liquor outlets would operate in 27 districts from 10 am to 5 pm.
It is not surprising since liquor sales, a monopoly of the state, continues to be a major revenue source of the government enabling bankrolling of the welfare schemes. Also, this appears to be a measure to contain the surge in illicit distillation and smuggling from across the state's borders as well as hoarding and sale in the black market. However, the phasing out of curbs does not apply to the western districts and a few delta districts where the corona infections continue to be high. These districts are Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Karur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai.
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Chief Minister MK Stalin's announcement to this effect made it clear that the new relaxations would cover educational institutions so that the admission process for the coming academic year could be carried out by schools and colleges as well as universities. As per the relaxed guidelines, export and manufacturing units could function with a 50 per cent workforce in conformity with the appropriate protocols.
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Other industries, including insurance firms and NBFCs in the services sector, are allowed to operate with a 33 per cent workforce. While the earlier stipulation was that workers should be ferried by four-wheelers, the new rules permit travel by two-wheelers with mandatory e-registration. While salons and beauty parlours and salons can function with 50 per cent of customers without air conditioning, IT and ITES firms can operate with a 20 per cent workforce or with a maximum of 10 employees.
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Parks and playgrounds will be opened for the public from 6 am to 9 am. Tea shops, however, will remain shut till further orders.
