NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interacting with Chief Ministers currently in the fifth such virtual meet on the coronavirus crisis. The discussions are expected to revolve around a plan for life after May 17, when the nationwide lockdown is due to end after its second extension. Today's meeting, which started at 3 pm, will go on "till proceedings continue", say officials.

On Sunday, the government took a major step by allowing limited passenger train services from Tuesday, for which online bookings start today. Special trains (total of 30 journeys) will run between Delhi and 14 states.

One of the many firsts in today's meeting is that all Chief Ministers get to speak. In previous meetings, not all were slotted to speak.

The crisis for thousands of migrants, stranded because of the lockdown since March-end, is also expected to be a key point of discussion.

Migrants left jobless and without food or shelter walking home thousands of kilometres away has been one of the most compelling sights during the shutdown.

Even after special trains started running from states to take migrants, students and others home, the desperation has not ended for many.

An economic package to help migrants, small and medium industries and to help revive consumption is also on the government's to-do list.

The chief ministers are expected to push for stepping up economic activities in a calibrated manner, as the Centre weighs a graded exit from the 54-day lockdown. At a meeting on Sunday, state Chief Secretaries told Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba that while protection is required from COVID-19, economic activities need to be stepped up.

States have demanded that in case of a graded exit from the lockdown based on red, orange and green zones, the state administration be allowed to decide where restrictions can be eased.

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, exiting the lockdown will be a tough call.

Courtesy: NDTV