In a bid to provide relief to the poor and needy people affected due to Covid-19 pandemic, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced an economic package of more than Rs 1,100 crore.
The announcement was made by the Chief Minister during a press conference held to mark the completion of 600 days of BJP-JJP led State Government tenure in Haryana.
Accompanied by his entire Cabinet, Khattar while making a series of annoucements said that in view of the financial constraints faced by the labourers working in the unorganized sector, a relief package of Rs 600 crore will be given to 12 lakh such families of the state. Under the ambit of this package, a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 will be given to all such families in the state.
The Chief Minister said that to ensure that the labourers of the unorganized sector have easy access to the scheme, a portal has been designed and the registrations on the portal will start from June 18.
A relief package of Rs 150 crore will also be provided to small shopkeepers, who belong to BPL families.
The Chief Minister also announced a financial aid of Rs 5,000 per family to the families of Corona warriors like ASHA workers and employees of NHM. Under this, a financial burden of about Rs 11 crore will be borne by the government.
He said that the State Government is steadfast to provide relief to consumers of electricity during the ongoing Corona-crisis and the Electricity Department has decided that surcharge will not be levied on electricity bills till June 30.
Apart from this, the State Government has announced to provide relief to the traders as business activities are affected due to Corona pandemic.
The consumers whose average electricity bill for the months of April, May and June is 50 per cent less than the average electricity bill for the months of January, February and March, their fixed charge of Rs 10,000 will be 100 percent waived off .Those consumers whose fixed charge ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000, they will get a rebate of up to Rs 10,000 and a rebate of 25 per cent will be given on electricity bills having fixed charges of more than Rs 40,000.
The relief provided in power bills would cost Rs 80 crore to the state exchequer, the Chief Minister added.
Providing relief to the people of the state in property tax, Khattar said that it has been decided to waive off the entire property tax for the first quarter of the year 2021-22. With this, a financial burden of about Rs 150 crore will be borne by the Urban Local Bodies Department.
The Chief Minister further said that Motor Vehicle Tax for the first quarter of the year 2021-22 will not be levied on vehicles carrying passengers. Due to this, the financial burden of about Rs 72 crore will be borne by the Department. Also, the fitness date of vehicles has been extended till June 30.
Taking another favourable decision for the people of the state, he said that the government has also given permission for registration of fourth floor in big cities.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government had earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh on the death due to COVID of a family member falling between the age group of 18 years to 50 years of BPL families. The benefits of this scheme were given to 46 families by transferring an amount of Rs 2 lakh each to their accounts through DBT, thereby initiating the scheme on Thursday. Besides, Rs 5,000 per family were transferred directly to the bank accounts of 2,755 BPL families, who have COVID affected family members in home isolation.
Khattar said that the State Government has borne the entire cost of the Covid affected patients of BPL families and will continue to do so in the future as well.