Finance Minister Dr. Rameshwar Oraon on Thursday said that the Government was pondering over paying Rs.2000 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the Jharkhand labourers stuck in other states during the ongoing lockdown. The proposal will be submitted to Chief Minister Hemant Soren within the next 24 hours for approval, he added.
Talking to media persons in Ranchi after a meeting of the Cabinet Sub Committee on COVID-19, Oraon said that providing relief to migrant labourers of the State was one of the main agenda of the meeting. Ministers Champai Soren, Satyanand Bhokta and Banna Gupta attended the meeting along with Principal Secretaries of several important departments.
"We are compiling a data of Jharkhand's labourers stuck in other states. The various MPs and MLAs have been requested to help in creating this data," said Oraon, adding that Anganwadi workers and other government staff working at the grassroot level will also help in creating the data.
It was the duty of all the State governments to ensure food and accommodation for migrant labourers during this ongoing crisis, said Oraon. “We will establish a dialogue with chief ministers of other States for providing help to our labourers," he added.
The Minister said that that many states including Bihar and Odisha have also tried to provide financial assistance to migrant workers trapped outside. "A final call on our proposal of paying Rs.2000 to each of our migrant labourers stuck in other states will be taken soon," he added.
He informed that after the end of the lockdown, several lakh people will return to Jharkhand, and the Government may urge the railways to provide free tickets to such people. “Proper arrangements will be made for all their health check-ups. For this, quarantine centers are being built in community centers and panchayat buildings on a large scale, only after screening people will be allowed to go to their homes and stay in home quarantine for 14 days," he said.
Oraon said that providing employment to people after the lockdown was a major challenge for the Government. "After April 20, wide relaxation will be given in the farming sector. MNREGA schemes will also be started from April 20, for which necessary funds have been provided by Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam. Exemption will also be given to work in the brick kiln," he added.