THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : On impact from lockdown, expert analysis indicate revenue loss of Rs 80,000 crore to State in the first quarter alone, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. To resolve this crisis, the Centre should lend necessary financial support, CM urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that there could be more loss in waiting if conditions don’t improve.
On Sunday, Union Minister Amit Shah informed that PM would video conference with Chief Ministers of smaller states next day. Since a prior view of conditions appeared desirable, Kerala put forth key demands to the Centre on Sunday.
Main Highlights :
ð Rs 14,000 crores has been lost in income to over 3 lakh self-employed individuals and casual labourers. Hotel and restaurant sectors alone sustained losses of Rs 6,000 crore and Rs 14,000 respectively. The IT sector has also laid off significant number of people post lockdown.
ð The Centre should urgently announce rehabilitation package for those left without livelihood.
ð Non-Stop trains should be allowed to reach guest workers to their native states.
ð The Centre should give due consideration for health workers from Kerala in states outside. They should be provided with sanitised quarantine facilities. Their present working conditions call for urgent intervention from Centre.
ð There should be special consideration for small scale business units. They should be provided assistance from Disaster Management Funds. Labourers from unorganized sector should be given minimal financial support.
ð Loans between Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakhs should be allowed for small traders.
ð The losses suffered by small scale business can be helped with only through loans with discounted interest. A slash of 9 percent on loans advanced to these enterprises should be effected.
Workers from these units should be paid ESI(Employment State Insurance) wages. Limits on contribution to provident fund should be raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.
ð Foodgrain supplies to the states should be ensured. NAFDAC and other agencies should take proactive steps in this direction.
ð Software technology is vital for effective tracking, tracing, quarantine and observation purposes to mitigate Covid-19. PM encouraged use of Aarogya
Setu App developed by Centre in this regard. However , Kerala is yet to be streamed in for access to its data.
