Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat held a meeting with his cabinet colleagues at his residence to discuss the situation resulting from the nation-wide lockdown on Tuesday.
Rawat stressed on the need for seriously considering how to turn the disaster caused by COVID-19 into an opportunity. Regarding the lockdown, the State Government will take a decision and finalise the exit policy according to the directions which are to be issued by the Central government.
How to strengthen the economy in this changing scenario is also a challenge which is being faced. He said that during this period, a large number of people have returned to their homes. The Rural Development and Migration Commission will be directed to conduct a study on how to encourage such people towards reverse migration.
The commission will talk to such people and seek their suggestions too. The people who have now returned to their homes can be convinced to stay back by facilitating provision of better resources and facilities. This will be an effective effort to stop migration from the mountainous regions of the state.
Rawat also stressed on the need for motivating people to contribute as much as possible to the CM relief fund. With this fund, the government will also be able to draft a work plan for the betterment of the State’s people.
In these difficult times of disaster, strict action will be taken under the Essential Commodities Act against those found indulging in the black-marketing of food grains. The CM also clarified that for the containment of the spread of novel coronavirus and during the lockdown, the government will take collective decisions. In this regard, no department will issue any type of order at its own level. Rawat further said that Rs 10 lakh has been made facilitated from the CM assistance fund for those deputed for containment and prevention of COVID-19.
A committee has been formed to look into related cases and to accord approval for providing the sum to the dependents of the person concerned in case of any undesirable development.
Cabinet ministers Madan Kaushik, Satpal Maharaj, Harak Singh Rawat, Subodh Uniyal, State ministers Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya were present in the deliberations. Cabinet minister Yashpal Arya participated in the deliberations via video conferencing from Haldwani. The ministers expressed their views and made suggestions regarding the present conditions in the state.