To help the daily wagers and unorganized labourers across the state who are worst hit by the curfew imposed in light of the COVID-19 crisis, the Punjab Government would distribute 10 lakh packets of dry rations to help them through the contingency situation.
Announcing this, the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that the packets, containing 10 kg atta, two kg dal, and two kg of sugar each, would be distributed in the slums and other pockets where such daily wagers and labourers are staying in large numbers.
At the same time, the Chief Minister also ordered that these packets should be made available at the offices of the Deputy Commissioners to support any such persons who do not get covered in the door-to-door distribution and may call the helpline numbers for food.
“While the economic package announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is welcome and would provide support to many sections of the society, there is unfortunately no immediate relief provided by the Centre to the daily wage earners and the unorganized sector workers, who have been left in the lurch following the curfew or lockdown imposition,” he said.
Earlier, during a video conference conducted by Congress national president Sonia Gandhi with the Chief Ministers of the party-led states, Capt Amarinder said that all efforts were being made by his Government to reach out to the poor in Punjab.
He updated the Congress president of the various measures being taken in the state to provide succour to the citizens in this hour of crisis.
The Chief Minister further said that all arrangements were being made to ensure home delivery of essential items and services, and to reach out to those in need at their doorstep.
Clear directions have been issued to both, the police and civil administration, to streamline the support and delivery systems in every district, he said, adding that there was marked improvement in this regard today and the situation would further stabilize on this count in the next couple of days.
The introduction of the e-pass facility launched by the Punjab Police was a step in this direction, he added.
Reacting to reports of crowding at medicine and drugs stores in some areas, the Chief Minister assured that there was no shortage of medical supplies of any kind.
He also assured the doctors and health staff that all necessary equipment to deal with the situation, from testing kits of COVID-19 to protective materials, was available in the State. The safety of doctors and health workers was of paramount importance, he added.
SAD SEEKS IMPROVEMENT IN SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES TO ALL, INCLUDING POOREST OF POOR
SAD president Sukhbir Badal and party MLA Bikram Majithia on Thursday demanded improvement in the supply of essential commodities to all, including the poorest of poor.
Sukhbir said that his inputs revealed that there was only a limited truth in the government's claims of maintaining supply of essential commodities, and appealed to the government to operationalise all channels to ensure that people do not suffer on this account.
“The poor and especially the daily wage earners are facing extreme hardships. The Government must take immediate and effective steps to help the poor and the needy in this hour of challenge,” he said.
Sukhbir demanded that the government must come up immediately with was to help the farmers with the harvesting and procurement of the standing crop. “The food supply chain cannot be allowed to be broken. If that happens, it can have disastrous implications for the country,” he said demanding immediate financial assistance from the Punjab Government to the farmers which could be adjusted in installments later.
Urging the Chief Minister to intervene urgently to rush food to the poorest of the poor, Majithia said that the State was witnessing heart rendering scenes of women pleading for food for their hungry children.
“The situation has become such that the poor are claiming that they might not fall to caronovirus but would definitely fall prey to hunger. It is difficult to see such suffering. I am sure, like us, the Chief Minister also must be extremely disturbed. While the entire rural poor are affected, daily wagers who are unable to earn their livelihood are in utter despair. The government must step to ensure food stuff reaches their door at the earliest,” he said.