Covid-19: States ready with aid and containment measures

Noida/New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government also announced that around 35 lakh labourers in the state would get Rs 1,000 each as financial aid and free ration for a month would be provided to 1.65 crore construction workers amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials for immediate release of payment to MNREGS workers in the state and to make foodgrain available to the poor in cities and villages, a statement issued by the UP government said. Daily wage labourers in urban areas who do not have ration cards would get the document on priority basis, the statement said.

In Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik ordered a lockdown of 40% of the state, including capital Bhubaneswar, for a week. The lockdown will be in force in the districts of Khordha, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapara and Angul as well as the towns of Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jajpur road and Jajpur town, Bhadrak from 7.00 am on March 22 till 9.00 pm on March 29. However, flight, train, bus and essential services are exempted.

The Bihar government ordered the shutting down of bus services, restaurants and banquet halls till March 31. However, home delivery and take home services of restaurants will remain functional, a health department order said. In Telangana, CM K Chandrasekhar Rao said the government was gearing up its machinery for extended shutdowns and to close down its borders for days together if needed.

Credai’s Salary Plea for Workers In Mumbai, the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India has asked its members to pay construction workers even if they miss work due to illness or stoppage of work on the site in the wake of ongoing mayhem caused by coronavirus.