CM praises Centre’s efforts to curb COVID-19 outbreak
   Date :30-Mar-2020

Bhupesh Baghel_1 &nb
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
CM Baghel writes to PM Narendra Modi suggesting additions in relief schemes
 
Gives information about the measures taken by State Government to tackle COVID-19 outbreak in State
 
 
Praising the efforts and measures initiated by the Central Government towards prevention and control of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave information about the measures taken in this direction and about implementation of complete lockdown in State. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in his letter to the Prime Minister, urged him to allocate special relief package for workers and labourers engaged in MGNREGS, both organised and unorganised sectors and for Jan Dhan Account holders, so that in this hour of crisis they can be provided with financial assistance.
 
Chief Minister in his letter stated that Chhattisgarh is under lockdown since March 21, which has helped in a major way to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections. As on date the State has only 7 COVID-19 positive patients and all of them are normal. Fortunately, as of now no deaths has been reported from COVID-19 infection in State.
 
The Chief Minister said that doctors and medical personnel from AIIMS, Raipur and Health Department as well as other departments are working on mission mode to maintain supply of essential commodities during the lockdown period. But as the lockdown is progressing, a major part of state’s population is gradually moving towards economic crisis. Praising the announcements made by Union Finance Minister on March 26, Baghel said that it has brought relief to a large section of the society. He called upon the Prime Minister to continue with these measures for the time being as a major part of the population is still untouched and they are yet to receive any kind of relief from these announcements.
 
Particularly, MGNREGS labourers and workers from unorganised sectors are worst affected. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that apart from the measures announced by the Union Finance Minister, he wants to add some measures which include transfer of Rs 1,000 per month in the accounts of MGNREGS labourers and workers from unorganised sector for next three months. Similarly, an amount of Rs 750 should be transferred into the account of Jan Dhan Yojana account holders per month for next three months. He also suggested that the Centre should bear the amount of provident fund contributions of the workers working in organised sector for next three months.
 
The Chief Minister said that if these suggestions are approved, then only we will be successful in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic or else this would become a crisis of lakhs of families. The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to approve these demands at the earliest so that people from these categories could be provided immediate relief.