Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has, on Wednesday, said that the state government would be easing the lockdown gradually and it can be done only if people extend their co-operation to the government to revive back the state post lockdown. 

The Chief Minister has convened a meeting with the district collectors and the higher officials on Wednesday during which he reviewed and took stock of the COVID-19 situation to formulate the path of moving the state after May 17. His meet has come at a crucial time when the nation is preparing to hit the fourth phase of the lockdown, which would be coming to effect after May 17, the deadline of the current spell of the lockdown. 

Edappadi Palaniswami has listed out the steps taken by the government to resume economic activities. He appealed to people to extend their co-operation to the government and their co-operation would be the larger player for the government to relax the lockdown and withdrawing the restrictions gradually. 

He stated that people have access to essential services due to the government's efforts and it has been providing free rations through the public distribution system and supplying free food through the state-run Amma Canteens. According to the Union Health Ministry, Tamil Nadu is the third Indian state to report more than 8000 cases after Maharashtra and Gujarat. 

During the virtual meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday, Edappadi Palaniswami has asked the Center to provide financial assistance of Rs 2000 crore and appealed to the Prime Minister not to resume the train and air services in Tamil Nadu till May 31st as the state has been witnessing soaring high cases. 

Modi announced that the lockdown would be in place after May 17 in a different form with new rules.  As of Tuesday evening, the state has reported 8,718 positive cases so far of which 6,520 are active, 2,134 have been discharged, and 61 had succumbed to the virus. The state had seen the resumption of some of the activities on Monday and the government would keep the restrictions in the red zones while pouring some relaxations to the orange and green zones.