Thiruvananthapuram : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in an e-mail to the Prime Minister, urged changes to conditions tagged with PM Cares Fund. The Fund allows states to draw money only for purposes of shelter, treatment and food for guest workers, and prohibits claims to expenditures incurred previously on same counts.
The amount allocated to various states and union territories is based on weightage accorded to 3 factors - 1) A 50 percent weightage is given to population figures of 2011 census 2) Another 40 percent weightage is given to Covid-19 tally of the concerned state and 3) A 10 percentage weightage to the remaining portion contributed equally by Centre and the State.
The expenses made on guest workers in each state will depend on their numbers, the reason why the Centre purportedly gives 50 % weightage to 2011 census figures. This must be changed and 50 percent weightage givent to migrant population existing in a given State, CM said in the e-mail.
Kerala has a population of 4.85 lakh guest workers. State endeavour to shelter, treat and feed them served to be a role model during the pandemic. However, with centre disallowing claim to costs incurred earlier, Kerala is at loss to make up for these amounts. The consequences are dire and situation should be reviewed, CM suggested in the letter.
