Former Union Minister Srikant Jena on Sunday demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik clarify if the lockdown would be extended, why Odisha workers stranded in other States have not been brought back and whether the Rs 100-crore package is sufficient to provide livelihood support to urban labourers.
In a letter to the CM, Jena wanted to know why the number of COVID tests still remains unsatisfactory and the State has been unable to procure adequate rapid test kits.
"According to the World Health Organisation, lockdown bears no meaning if adequate numbers of blood samples are not tested. After 26 days of lockdown, only nine thousand tests have been done (in the State). If the Andhra Pradesh Government could bring 1 lakh rapid test kits, why the Odisha Government couldn't? In this situation, will your Government extend the lockdown," Jena wanted to know.
Noting that the Utter Government has brought back thousands of students from Rajasthan's Kota city by 500 buses, Jena wanted to know when the Odisha Government would do so.
Jena pointed out that only 30% of the Rs 100-crore package announced by the CM for urban labourers would reach the targeted 4.5 lakh workers as per labour component norm. Thus, each wager would get Rs 4.44 per day. Is the amount sufficient to help the poor group when Mudhi costs Rs 50 per kg and a cup of tea Rs 10 now? Jena questioned.