The Centre wants the workers engaged under its programmes, including the rural job scheme, to stop spitting or chewing tobacco at work sites as part of measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Some experts expressed doubts how successfully these measures can be implemented, citing lifelong tobacco-chewing habits and the proximity at which co-workers have to stand during digging or embankment building, when they pass on the earth or mud hand-to-hand.

At a review meeting with state officials last week, Union rural development secretary Rajesh Bhushan had emphasised the enforcement of social-distancing measures during work on job scheme projects.

Bhushan had also insisted on the norms being maintained during work on the rural road-building, housing and livelihood support schemes in the non-containment zones.

“It is important for all States/UTs to develop standard planning template for each work site (social distancing to be maintained, protective face covers to be used, provision of washing of hands multiple times by water and soap... no smoking, no tobacco chewing, no spitting, personal hygiene to be maintained, etc),” said the minutes of the meeting.

The ministry website has put out a graphic emphasising five dos and don’ts for the workers: “Keep your mouth and nose covered with mask/ scarf/ clean cloth while stepping out, do not hug or shake hands, wash hands often, do not spit in public places and seek medical help for influenza-like symptoms.”

Rajendran Narayanan, a researcher on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and a faculty member at Azim Premji University, said social distancing was a difficult objective.

“The MGNREGA workers mainly do earth work, for which social-distancing measures would be difficult to enforce. Preventing them from spitting is a big challenge too,” he said.

Narayanan said a better option was to pay the registered job scheme workers their wages without their actually having to work.

“The government wants its departments and private employers to pay full wages to the employees who are unable to join duty during the lockdown period. The same should be followed in the case of the MGNREGA,” he said.

The rural job scheme provides for up to 100 days’ unskilled, paid work to every rural household in a year. The government has decided to encourage projects under the scheme in rural areas to increase liquidity.