The Centre on Friday released Rs 11,092 crore to States for Covid-19 related rehabilitation works after many Chief Ministers raised the issue of immediate release of the money from State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) during their video-conferencing session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Earlier in the morning, the Group of Ministers headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and comprising Home Minister Amit Shah, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar carried out a detailed review of the overall healthcare delivery system as well as situation arising out of the 21-day nation-wide lockdown.
Government sources said the ministers deliberated on various arrangements being made by the different ministries and organisations to deal with increasing cases of coronavirus cases as well as to ensure adequate supplies of medicine and essential commodities during the lockdown. India has recorded over 2,300 positive cases of coronavirus and at least 56 deaths so far.
The Home Ministry also asked the States to ensure smooth harvesting and sowing operations, saying agricultural activities were exempted from the21-day lockdown enforced to combat coronavirus. In a communication to all states and UTs, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the Home Ministry has allowed agricultural operations, keeping in view the harvesting and sowing season.
“The Centre has allowed for agricultural operations keeping in view the harvesting and sowing season. Though exception have been allowed for farming operation by farmers and farm workers, procurement of agricultural productions, operation of mandis, movement of harvesting and sowing related machinery,” Bhalla said.
Harvesting of rabi (winter) crops such as wheat, mustard, corn and pulses has begun in some places and will pick up in the coming months. Millions of farmers across the country can work in their farms throughout the nationwide lockdown put in place over the coronavirus pandemic.
States will decide how to implement this order in a safe manner given the pandemic, the officials said.