Even as Bengal entered the third day of lockdown, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday slammed the Centre for not doing enough to help her State tackle the coronavirus crisis and demanded an immediate package of Rs 1,500 crore.
“It is very difficult to tackle such a huge crisis with our limited resources” and the Centre should come out with adequate financial packages for all the corona-affected States, the Chief Minister said while making her own claim for Rs 1,500 crore.
“We had made the same request at the all-party meeting two days back.
The Centre should announce a special financial package for the state in the current situation,” she said.
Reminding how her Government had already created Rs 200 crore fund to tackle the initial spell of the crisis Banerjee appealed to the corporate, industrialist, organizations and well-off citizens including the non-resident Indians to generously donate in the designated State Emergency Relief Fund. Banerjee who has earned special acclaim for her inspiring performance in handling the crisis used a white board to personally draw diagrams showing citizens how to maintain physical distance while visiting markets for daily essentials.
Saying that the total lockdown under National Disaster Management Act had been imposed by the Central Government not in consultation with the States the Chief Minister said the State’s still had right to take decisions on certain things while implementing the Act.
Accordingly “we will hold a review meeting on March 31 before giving relaxation in the ongoing lockdown,” adding her Government was fully aware of the approaching Bengali New Year’s Day on April 15.
“Like the New Year in Punjab and some other States we too have our New Year coming on April 15 and for that we will review the situation on March 31 on how some relaxation can be given if at all it can be given,” she said.
Directing the police not to stop the online delivery service of essential items and also the vegetable vendors and staff of medicine shops as also the farmers who were working in fields Banerjee said “the police have been instructed to strictly go by the rules and ensure the lockdown but with a human face.” If required, passes should be issued to people employed for home delivery services, she said.
Warning that strong action would be taken against policemen who would stop people involved in essential services Banerjee said “Social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation.” The Chief Minister also warned of stern action if doctors, nurses and health workers are harassed by their neighbours or landlords.
Meanwhile, BCCI president Sourav Ganguli have come out with a proposal offering a part of the Eden Gardens as a quarantine centre for suspected Corona cases, sources in the Cricket Association of Bengal said adding a proposal to this effect has already been sent to the State Government.