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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 7
Reiterating his demand for income subsidies to states for three months to cover the income deficit, Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clearly define the way forward for the country’s economic recovery and a 3.0 block exit strategy.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister said: “The exit strategy can not only set the parameters for containing COVID-19 within safe limits, but must also define the path of economic revival. It should consider and focus on the fiscal and economic empowerment of the states. “
In addition to increasing the demand for income subsidies, the prime minister also asked the 15th Finance Commission for a directive from the Center to review its report for the current year, as the situation had completely changed due to COVID-19.
He also said that the 15th Finance Commission should recommend the return of funds for 5 years, starting on 1.4.2021 (instead of 2020), after considering the impact of COVID-19.
Captain Amarinder urged the prime minister to issue the necessary instructions to various ministries in this regard, to allow states to formulate clear strategies and pathways, after the 3.0 shutdown on May 17.
The prime minister noted that this was necessary since COVID-19 and subsequent blockades had led to unprecedented job, business and economic opportunity losses, and its true impact was not yet known.
Noting that it was well known that the economy had slowed down and that GDP would not increase, the Prime Minister said that Punjab’s income had decreased by 88 percent in April 2020.
“The poor have been the most affected with damages to all aspects of their socioeconomic life. The threat of poverty, hunger and deprivation of health are much more imminent now. If the socio-economic life of the common man is not restored immediately, there could be a serious psychological dismemberment of our society. The loss of jobs and livelihoods has also seriously affected equity and civil liberties in our society, “he said, adding that these were the harsh realities of today.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister assured the Prime Minister that the Punjab government would do everything possible to contain this deadly virus to save the lives of its people.
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