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Amid certainty that the blockade will extend for at least another two weeks to slow the rate of transmission of the infection, the PMO announced that Modi will address the nation on the last day of the 21-day “stay home” period. ” ” At 10 am.
The announcement came amid indications that the Center is working on plans to increase aid to the pandemic’s poor and unemployed and take careful first steps to again jeopardize the economy. Sources said the package of proposals includes a plan to expand the scope of the provision of free food grains beyond PDS recipients and regardless of location.
This can help people draw rations even in areas where their PDS cards are not registered. The proposed scheme is expected to cost between Rs 20 billion and Rs 25 billion. This will add to the Rs 1.7 lakh crore package announced days after the crash started.
Ten states have already announced the extension of the blockade until the end of the month. States are likely to welcome relief from some restrictions that have halted virtually all public activities.
Measures have been called for to help companies badly affected by the spread of the disease and the blockade. While the measures are underway, the government’s view is that they can await a more complete assessment of the consequences of Covid-19. The case for the poor and the workers is more immediate and the government needs to look at the “last man in line.”
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Modi told the CMs last week that while there was no escaping the continued application of the “stay home” regime, the second phase would mark a shift in focus to balance the goal of saving lives with the need to safeguard livelihoods and revive the economy.
Sources said the proposals under consideration include encouraging employers in construction and other sectors to bring back the migrants who were working for them before leaving for their villages. The change from “jaan hai to jahan hai” (saving the lives of citizens comes first) to “jaan bhi jahan bhi” (the world must also be saved along with lives) is likely to see an adjustment of the lock to allow the resumption of production activities. , at least for essential goods and related industries, while ensuring that the rules of social distancing are not compromised.
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The goal appears to be to help resume the production and manufacture of essential items on a limited basis, with a focus on helping small and medium-sized businesses that do not have many employees but add up to a large cumulative amount. Production units for essential items, including ancillary units such as flour mills, small units dedicated to the manufacturing of essential item packaging, can restart operations, but with much of the locally acquired labor.
