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1.7 Lakh Cr Economic Package; Shops Selling Essentials to Open 24*7 in Delhi, Maha

Newsclick Report |
The number of confirmed coronavirus infected cases in the country crossed 700 on Thursday. The death toll reached 17.

Coronavirus March 26 India Map

Two days into the lockdown, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a 1.7-lakh-crore economic relief package to alleviate the hardship caused by the coronavirus induced 21–day nationwide lockdown.

The announcements, which proved nothing but half-measures by the Modi government at a time when the country is hit hard by a pandemic, include increase of MGNREGA wages from Rs.182 to Rs.202 per day, transfer of Rs.500 per month (for three months) to every woman accountholder under the Jan Dhan Yojana, and free gas cylinders to all Ujjwala beneficiaries, among others.
Meanwhile, to stop the panic buying problem among the 1.3 billion population, the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Maharashtra announced on Thursday that shops selling essential items including groceries, vegetables will be allowed to function round the clock, according to news agency PTI.
The number of confirmed coronavirus infected cases in the country crossed 700 on Thursday. The death toll reached 17.
Briefing the media on Thursday evening, Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry, however, said that the rate of increase of cases “appears to be relatively stabilizing.”

Live blog

36 Coronavirus Cases in Delhi So Far: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal confirmed on Thursday that 36 coronavirus infected cases have been reported in the national capital so far. Five positive cases were reported on Wednesday.

Delhi: Essential Services Shop to Remain Open 24 Hours; Food Home Delivery Services Allowed

Day after incidents were reported of long queues of people trying to buy essentials at grocery stores, Delhi’s Lt. Governor Ani Baijal said on Thursday that all essential services shops can remain open 24 hours in the national capital to avoid rushing of the people, according to news agency ANI.

In the same press conference, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal informed that food home delivery services in the national capital have been allowed. The delivery persons can show their ID cards that will be sufficient, he added.

Bihar Reports Two More COVID-19 Cases

Bihar reported two more positive cases of coronavirus infection on Thursday, taking the state tally to reach six, according to news agency PTI.

AIIMS Task Force to Develop Management Protocols for COVID-19 Pandemic

India’s premiere medical institute All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said on Thursday that it has constituted a task force to develop management protocols for the coronavirus pandemic in the country, according to news agency ANI.

Noida Reports Three New Positive Cases

Uttar Pradesh’s Noida reports three more persons who tested positive for coronavirus, according to PTI. With this, total number of COVID-19 in Noida’s Gautam Budh Nagar district has reached 14, officials informed.

Food Ministry Official Says 7kg/person Subsidised Foodgrains Under PDS for 3 Months: Report

The government will supply over the next three months additional 2 kg subsidised foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS), taking the total monthly quota to 7 kg per person, a senior Food Ministry official told the Economic Times on Thursday.

The extra two kilo subsidised foodgrains over and above the existing monthly quota will be supplied for only the next three months to all ration card holders, according to the official.

Karnataka Reports Second Death; India’s Death Toll Now at 14

Karnataka reported its second death due to novel coronavirus on Thursday, according to a PTI report. With this, the death toll in the country has now reached 14.

Karnataka has reported 51 confirmed cases of infectious virus as of now.

Finance Minister Announces 1.7 Lakh Crore Relief Package for Poor

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday says that a package is ready for the poor who need immediate help like migrant workers and urban and rural poor. According to media reports, Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Scheme will entail Rs. 1.7 lakh crore for the same purpose.

 

Insurance Cover for Health Workers, Announces FM

Finance Minister on Thursday announces Rs 50 lakh per person insurance cover for doctors, paramedic, healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak.

5 kg Wheat/Rice and 1 kg Pulses for Free for Next Three Months to 80cr Poor: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced 5kg of wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months for 80 crore poor people in the nation, under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Scheme meant to help the need amid the nation wide lockdown.

Direct Cash Transfers for 8.69 cr Farmers; Wage Increase in MGNREGA: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces direct cash transfers which will immediately benefit 8.69 crore farmers. The first installment of Rs.2,000 will be transferred in the first week of April.

In the wake of a nationwide lockdown, the FM also announced wage increase of Rs. 2000 per worker on average as additional income in employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA

Unveiling Economic Relief Package: Major Announcements by FM

As the nation locks itself down till April 14 to fight the fast spreading coronavirus, Finance Minister on Thursday announces 1.47 lakh crore economic relief package for the poor. Here are the major announcements:

  • Rs 50 lakh per person insurance cover for doctors, paramedic, healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak
  • 80 cr poor people will to get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months
  • Govt to front-load Rs 2,000 paid to farmers in first week of April under existing PM Kishan Yojana to benefit 8.69 cr farmers
  • Increase in MGNREGA wage to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 5 crore families.
  • An ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 to 3 cr poor senior citizen, poor widows and poor disabled
  • 20 cr women Jan Dhan Account holders to get Rs 500 per month for next three months to help them run their households
  • Ujjwala beneficiaries to get free cooking gas (LPG) cylinders in next three months
  • Collateral-free loan doubled to Rs 20 lakh to 63 lakh women self-help groups; to impact 7 crore households
  • Govt to pay employee, employer contribution to provident fund for 3 months for establishment with 90 per cent of staff with Rs 15,000 wage
  • Workers to be allowed to draw non-refundable advance of 75 per cent from credit in provident fund a/c or 3 months salary, whichever is lower
  • Central Govt will request State Govts to use District Mineral Fund to augment medical testing and screening and providing health attention
  • Central Govt has given orders to State Govts to use an existing Rs 31,000 crore welfare fund for the benefit for 3.5 crore construction workers.

Employment Crisis Amidst Lockdown

Due to the lockdown, there is a food crisis in front of the daily laborers due to which people are moving towards the villages, writes Newsclick’s Amit Singh. Read more here.

Food Crisis in Indian Universities Amid Lockdown

Delhi University’s situation is worse than Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University where now serving breakfast has been stopped. Similarly, in Indian central universities, the food and treatment has now the responsibility of the students in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. No arrangements have been made in this regard by the universities for the hostelers, reports an independent journalist Rizwana Tabassum.

Rajasthan Reports Another Death, Two New Coronavirus Cases

A 73-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus died due to co-morbidity in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara on Thursday, according to news agency PTI. In addition to this, the state has also reported two new positive coronavirus cases, taking the total number in the state to reach 40.

Coronavirus: Pakistan Seeks USD 3.7bn Loan: Report

As number of coronavirus cases cross 1,100, Pakistan has decided to seek $3.7 billion additional financing from three multilateral creditors including another loan of $1.4 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cope with the challenges being posed by the novel coronavirus outbreak., according to media reports.

Delhi Metro Services To Remain Closed TIll April 14

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced on Thursday that the metro services will remain closed till 14 April 2020.

Nagaland Government Sets Rules for Petrol Pumps, Groceries

Nagaland government on Thursday announced that petrol pumps across the state will remain open on alternate days, groceries will function for 4 hours daily, according to PTI.

Nitish to the rescue of stranded Bihari migrants

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that his government will bear the expenses of migrant workers stranded in other states during lockdown.

COVID-19 cases are Increasing, But Rate Appears to be Relatively Stabilized: Health Ministry

"While the numbers of COVID-19 cases are increasing, the rate at which they are increasing appears to be relatively stabilizing. However, this is only the initial trend," Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry told ANI on Thursday.

The confirmed coronavirus cases in the country is nearing the 700-mark.

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