In his 6th address to the nation during the last three months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that “PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna” that has been “delivering free food” to 80 crore poor in the country for last three months of lockdown would be extended to another five months until November.
While announcing extension of the scheme, the PM made a special mention of Chhath festival — a sun worship festival of Bihar. The PM said the next few months will see a series of festival, including Chhath for which people will have greater needs. Bihar is going to polls in October-November.
The Prime Minister’s address which focussed on the coronavirus pandemic sought countrymen to be “very careful” by maintaining social distancing, wearing face-mask and washing hands frequently to prevent spread of the virus.
Expectations ran high before the PM’s address with many expecting some major announcements related to India-China escalation on the Line of Actual Control in the eastern Ladakh. A day before, the Modi Government had banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok and WeChat.
Modi said the coronavirus death rate in India has stabilised in comparison to other countries in the globe on account of timely imposition of lockdown and important measures taken by the Government.
The Prime Minister, however, regretted that people are turning “careless” as country moves to unlock-2 phase. “Laparvahi badti chali jaa rahi hain”, (carelessness is increasing), he said, adding “We need to be more alert, specially in the containment zone”.
The Prime Minister said those who are “flouting norms” in this stage of pandemic need to be counseled.” Jo laparvahi kar rahain hain unko rokna, tokna aur samjhana hoga..”, Modi said.
Stressing need for the enforcement of the rules, he said one Prime Minister of a country has been fined Rs 13,000/- for not wearing face-mask. “In India too administration need to work like this.. a village head or a country’s PM is not above law”, Modi said suggesting strict enforcement of rules in the ongoing pandemic.
The Prime Minister announced that his Government is extending ‘PM Garib Klayan Ann Yojna’ through which free monthly ration - 5 kg wheat or rice and one kg chana dal - is being given to 80 crore people until November end. The free ration was being given since last three months of lockdown.
Rs 90,000 crore will be spent to implement the scheme for next five-months. Together with the expenditure of last three-months, the total money to the tune of Rs 1.50 lakh crore would be spent by the Government, Modi said.
Meanwhile, one nation-one ration card scheme is also being implemented, he said.
Modi signed off by saying that “do gaj ki doori banayiye.. gamchha ya face cover, mask lagaiye aur koi laparvahi mat baratiye…”.
