NEW DELHI: Odisha on Thursday became the first state to extend the covid-19 lockdown to 30 April, making it clear that it has chosen to save lives than revive businesses immediately.
The current 21-day lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, is scheduled to end on 14 April. “We had to make a difficult decision between lives and livelihood/business.
We took the difficult decision to save lives of people in the current situation. It’s a priority," chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in a video message to the people of the state.
Patnaik clarified that to help the poor, the state will facilitate agricultural, animal husbandry, and works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during the extended
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