Coronavirus outbreak: Assam govt mulling financial aid to over 4.5 million needy families if lockdown period extends

GUWAHATI: The assam government is contemplating financial assistance to over 4.5 million needy families if the lockdown to prevent outbreak of coronavirus, which started from 6pm on Tuesday, needs to be prolonged beyond March 31 by at least 10 to 15 days.
Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the house that in case of the dire need to provide the financial assistance, the legislative assembly would sit and amend the just passed state’s annual budget to make the provisions.
“With the lockdown, there are problems. What will happen to the tea garden worker who gets his wages every Saturday? What will happen to the daily wage earner, labourers? How to compensate them…I really don’t have a quick-fix answer to these concerns,” Sarma said in the assembly on Tuesday.
“April month is usually the poorest month for the state government. Somehow we can pull through till March 31 but, If we have to extend the lockdown period till April 10 or 15, what happens then?,” Sarma said.
Sarma told the house, “If we have to prolong the lockdown period, we may have to take some drastic steps and even amend the state budget to allow provisions.”
“Our target will be the population. We have data of bank accounts 2.7 lakh labourers for whom we had opened bank accounts, we have the data of bank accounts of 8 lakh tea garden workers and our biggest weapon is the Ujawala scheme under which we have data of over 34 lakh live account holders to whom the LPG subsidy is reimbursed,” Sarma said.
He said that the free rice to the BPL families, which was promised in this budget will be given to the people at their doorsteps from April 1.
Sarma reminded the legislators that the state probably has entered the toughest period of the year. “From April the Japanese Encephalitis season starts, which has much higher mortality rate than Covid-19. Thereafter the floods begin and most of the embankments are under repair work. I appeal to all pray for the best and prepare for the worst,” he said.
“We have arrived in a crisis situation. There will be no Bihu celebration year and artistes will face the problems. Tourism at Kaziranga has been completely closed, the people associated with the tourism are facing unbearable hurdles.”
Sarma said on Monday that he would soon announce an economic plan to steer the state and its people through the lockdown period.