On Sunday, the government decided to extend the ongoing lockdown, enforced in an attempt to stem the spread of Covid-19, by a week until April 7 midnight. The lockdown has halted businesses, while it has also created problems for the poor. In this regard, Sunday’s Cabinet announced a slew of decisions, measures and relief packages.

Food to the needy should be provided by the local level

• The local level should prepare data of those working in the unorganised sector

• Families wanting to receive relief should register their names at respective ward offices

• The local level should provide relief during the lockdown period so as to meet the daily food needs

• Local and provincial units will establish a fund and use it to provide relief to families as per the collected data

• The Nepal government will provide additional funds if there is a shortage. Local and provincial units will coordinate

• The local governments will take special care of the vulnerable groups—pregnant women, people with disabilities, people with long-term illness and orphans

• The local and provincial governments will make arrangements for expenses for food and group quarantine facilities

Employers will pay salaries to their employees

• Employers (industrialists and businessperson) in the formal sector will pay salaries to their workers even during the lockdown

• Employers can access the organisation-level welfare funds to make payments to their employees until the resumption of businesses

• Tourism organisations will pay daily or monthly wages to their workers until Chaitra (last month of Nepali calendar)

• The Nepal government will deposit the amount contributed by workers and employers of organisations affiliated to the Social Security Fund for the month of Chaitra

• Data on migrant workers who returned from abroad and who could not go for work abroad despite securing work permit due to Covid-19 will be provided employment through the local level

• Those workers will be listed at the local level-based Employment Service Center and employment opportunities will be created through the Prime Minister Employment Programme.

One month's house rent to be exempted

• The government urges landlords of those working in various unorganised sectors to exempt one month’s rent. Homeowners complying with the request will not have to pay the tax on the exempted amount

10 percent discount on food items at government operated food companies

• 10 percent discount on food items, including rice, pulses and lentils among other items, brought from government food companies including Food Management and Trading Company and Salt Trading Corporation Limited

25 percent discount in internet and electricity up to 150 units

• Telecom companies will provide a 25 percent discount to internet and data users. The government will make necessary arrangements for discount from private telecom companies

• Nepal Electricity Authority will give 25 percent discount to users who use up to 150 units of electricity in a month

• The deadline to pay for electricity, drinking water, telephone and internet will be extended and no extra fines will be charged for the delay in payment till May 13

Rs2.5 million free insurance for medical personnel

• Free insurance of Rs 2.5 million for health professionals, including doctors, nurses, health technicians, health volunteers, cleaners, ambulance drivers, directly-involved security personnel, who are involved in the treatment and control of Covid-19 spread until July 15

• The government will provide all equipment needed for the treatment of Covid-19 for free

• All private medical facilities must continue providing services and make arrangements to provide discount in the bill amount until April 12

• Private schools must exempt all fees up to secondary level except boarding for a month

No customs duty for import of medical equipment

• No customs duty for any government, private and community sector importing medical equipment

Deadline extension for tax payment

• Organisations and businesses affected by Covid-19 can pay the Income Tax and monthly, bimonthly or trimonthly Value Added Tax until May 7.

• Documents to be submitted to the Company Registrar's Office and renewal of private firms can be done until May 13.

• Sugar mill owners must make complete payment to sugarcane farmers by May 13

Ban on imports of certain goods

• Only 10kg of gold can be imported

• Ban on import of vehicles worth over Rs6 million

• Ban on import of betel nut, blackpepper, peas, dates among other items

• Government will provide minimum currency exchange facility so that Nepali students pursuing studies abroad won't lack expense amount

Vehicle registration renewal deadline extended

• Deadline for renewal of driver's license, vehicle registration, pollution test and route have been extended until May 13. No additional fines will be charged.

One month extension on procurement agreement

• One month has been extended for procurement agreements done prior to the Covid-19 outbreak

• Banks must extend the bank guarantee time that ends on April 12, for a month without additional fees

Budget allocation and source management of international aid

• The government will allocate funds from the annual budget to be used in the control of the spread of Covid-19.

• Funds collected at the local, province and federal level, National Disaster Fund, Prime Minister Natural Disaster Fund and financial assistance by international organisations will be used in the control and treatment Covid-19.

• The government has decided to hold talks and finalise agreements to accept Rs 3.48 billion concessional loan provided by the World Bank through Emergency Medical Services Project, Rs13.9 billion no-interest loan provided by International Monetary Fund and $50 million financial aid being provided by Asian Development Bank.

• The government will also identify possible development partners and manage sources