Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced a special compensation package of Rs 1,690.46 crore as Covid-19 assistance for the economically and socially vulnerable people. This would benefit landless farmers, construction workers, urban poor, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), food security beneficiaries, NREGS workers, and SC and ST students.

The CM said the financial situation of all sections of the society, especially most vulnerable and economically backward population, has been affected during the second Covid wave. Because of the special benefits provided by the State Government during the first wave last year, people survived the adverse effects of the pandemic.

Under the new package, 17.83 lakh landless farming families, mostly KALIA beneficiaries, will be given special assistance of Rs 1,000 each.

 An amount of Rs 207 crore will be provided to the beneficiaries in three instalments. Besides, under the MUKTA Yojana aimed at providing employment to the poor living in urban areas, Rs 260 crore would be spent to create jobs in all 114 municipalities by December 2021.

In addition to their daily wages, workers under the NREGS scheme will be paid an additional Rs 50 per day as ‘Chief Minister Assistance Aid’ from April 21 to June 21.

 The Government would spend Rs 300 crore for this programmee, which would create  6 crore man-days. Under the food security system, each beneficiary would get 5 kg of rice free of cost from July to November 21. It would cost the Government Rs 92.86  crore.

The State Government has also decided to provide Rs 5,000 per family as livelihood assistance to 66,214 tribal people of 13 PVTGs. A sum of Rs 33.10 crore would be spent on this. The money would be deposited directly into their bank accounts.

SC and ST students would have their pre-matric scholarships credited from April 21 to September 21 in their parents' bank accounts directly in two phases. A sum of Rs 252.35 crore would be spent for this and 5,40,000 students would benefit from it.

The CM also announced Rs 1,500 each as special assistance for construction workers. Rs 360 crore would be spent for this.The Government has taken a decision to continue the Banishree scholarships for Dibyang (PWD) students who are not studying in special schools.

 They would be provided a scholarship of Rs 200 and Rs 350 (depending on class of study) from April to June 21. It would benefit 26,465 students and would cost Rs 3.62 crore.

Apart from these, special school students would be paid Rs 1,265 per month for food expenses from April 21 to June 21. It would benefit 6,471 students and cost Rs 2.41 crore.

And all non-residential students would be given a monthly stipend of Rs 370 each, for which Rs 3.62 crore would be spent. Besides, 344 non-residential students would be given a monthly grant of Rs 370 each from April 21 to June 21 also. It is estimated to cost Rs 3.80 lakh.