Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced Rs 20,000 crore would be given to through State’s women empowerment programme Kudumbhashree to extend financial support to State during global pandemic COVID19
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that a fresh coronavirus case has been reported from Kasargode, taking the state's total to 25. He also announced that Rs 20,000 crore will be pumped into the state economy, which has been badly hit and the government has decided to extend help to see that it does not fall further.
"Rs 2,000 crore would be given to the Kudumbhashree (women empowerment programme) who will give out small loans to the needy. Rs 1,000 crore each would be given in months of April and May for the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme," he said.
Apart from these, the proposed package will include a Rs 500 crore health package besides the social security pension to be paid in advance in April, entailing an expenditure of Rs 1,320 crore.
The Chief Minister also announced one month's free ration to all, tax reliefs for auto rickshaws and taxis besides stage and contract carriers also. The bills for electricity and water also will have a one month relief and can be paid without fine and film theatres would also offer reduction in entertainment tax.
He also thanked the defence and paramilitary forces who have extended all support to help the state government in case an emergency arises.
As Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday expressed his concern that when the UGC and the national boards have postponed all the examinations, in Kerala, the university and the state board examinations to Class 10,11, 12 are yet to be postponed.
While asking for caution to be maintained to contain the disease's spread, he urged the citizens to see that normal life should not be contained.
