Indian Government Provides Relief To Citizens Amid Coronavirus Panic

The Coronavirus pandemic has been spreading widely affecting a thousand numbers of people. The Indian government called for a 21-day lockdown to curb its spread in India. This raised alarm in the minds of the people with regards to their jobs and the availability of other essentials.

PM Modi asked the nation to not panic as the necessary commodities and medicines will remain available during the 21-day nationwide lockdown. He assured the masses of various states that the centre and the state will work together to ensure smooth functioning.

The Ministry of Home Affairs came out with a list of essential services that will remain open during the nationwide lockdown.

Allotment of Financial Aid Packages

The coronavirus outbreak has affected the livelihoods of daily wage earners. State governments have taken this into consideration and have planned to provide unemployment benefits to contract and temporary workers amid the pandemic.

Furthermore, the labour ministry has asked central ministries and states to make sure that employers don’t remove their temporary or contractual employees.

1. Kerala

The government in Kerala declared Rs. 20.000-cr special package to deal with the coronavirus. It has also decided to give loans worth Rs. 2000 crore through a self-help group called ‘Kudumbashree’. Additional Rs. 2000 crore was assigned to be distributed as a village employment programme from April to May.

The government has also decided to distribute the social welfare pension due in April in March itself. Two-month pension will amount to Rs. 1320 crore.

2. Punjab

CM Amarinder Singh declared relief of Rs. 3000 to registered construction workers in Punjab. He has earmarked Rs. 96 crores for this cause and has also sanctioned Rs. 20 crore for free food and medicines to those in need from the Chief Minister relief fund. IAS officers in Punjab and state cabinet ministers have also announced to donate a month’s salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund.

3. Uttar Pradesh

CM Yogi Adityanath announced a financial package of Rs. 353 crores to distribute among an estimated 3.53 million daily wage earners amid the coronavirus outbreak. Rs 1000 each, will be handed to 1.5 million daily wage workers and 2.03 million construction workers throughout the state through direct Bank transfer.

4. Haryana

CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced special financial aid for those Below Poverty Line (BPL) and low-Income groups like daily wage workers, street vendors and construction workers. The state government is to bear a cost of Rs. 1200 crore per month. The state announced setting up Haryana Corona Relief Fund (HCRF) and has asked people to make voluntary donations. The CM donated Rs. 500,000 from his personal account.

People registered under Haryana Board of Construction workers, but not registered under Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samriddhi scheme will be given Rs.4500 every month starting on March 30. Other labourers and daily wage workers are asked to register on the portal will be established on March 27, 2020 by the deputy commissioner. Eligible ones will be provided weekly assistance of Rs. 1000 via bank account.

All coronavirus infected patients will be provided free hospitalisation and those workers working to curb the spread of the virus will be given accident insurance of Rs. 1 million.

Furthermore, a special package is to be announced by the state government by March 28, 2020.

5. Delhi

CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced to pay salaries to contractual staff, daily wage workers and guest teachers employed at schools and colleges closed to aid the pandemic. People getting Ration from fair-price shops will get 50% extra in April. Free food will be provided for those in night shelters and those who are homeless.

6. Himachal Pradesh

The state government announced Rs. 500 crore relief for the poor. Rs. 30 crores is assigned to construction workers. About 105,000 workers registered with the Building and Construction Workers Board will be provided Rs. 2000 as one-time relief and ration including rice and flour will be given to targeted masses.

Rs. 160.2 crore will be given to those who come under social security pension holders in the first week of April.

Guidelines Issued by the Government for the Safety of Citizens

The government has announced that essentials will be available during this crisis. Following is the list of essential that will be available:

1. Central Government Offices

• Defence
• Central armed police forces
• Treasury
• Public utilities (including petroleum, CNG, LPG, PNG)
• Disaster management
• Power generation
• Transmission units
• Post offices
• National informatics centre
• Early Warning Agencies

2. State/Union Territories Offices

• Police
• Home guards
• Civil defence
• Fire and Emergency services
• Disaster Management
• Prisons
• District administration
• Treasury Electricity
• Water
• Sanitation Municipal bodies

3. Medical Services

Hospitals and all related medical establishments, including their Manufacturing and distribution units, both in public and private sector, such as:

• Dispensaries
• Chemist and medical equipment shops
• Laboratories
• Clinics
• Nursing Homes
• Ambulance

The transportation for all medical personnel, nurses, para-medical staff and other hospital support services be permitted.

4. Commercial and Private Establishments

• Shops, including ration shops (under PDS), dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal fodder
• Banks, insurance offices, and ATMs
• Print and electronic media Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services
• IT and IT-enabled Services only (for essential services)
• Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through E-commerce

5. Industrial Establishments

• Manufacturing units of essential commodities
• Production units, which require continuous process after obtaining the required permission from the state government

6. Transport Services

• Transportation for essential goods only b. Fire, law and order and emergency services

7. Hospitality

• Hotels
• Homestays
• Lodges
• Motels

This is subject to those which are accommodating tourists and persons stranded due to lockdown, medical and emergency staff, air and sea crew. Furthermore, establishments used or earmarked for quarantine facilities will remain open.

Conclusion

Stay home and stay safe. Fight Coronavirus by following the rules laid down by the government and cooperate with the government in curbing the spread.