Bihar CM grants Rs 100 crore for victims of Covid-19

While others have started speaking about the status of returning migrant workers, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already acted, having released an amount of Rs 100 crore as a relief package to the state Disaster Management Department. “We will provide food and shelter for every Bihar resident, who is trapped in Corona crisis, irrespective of his or her location,” said Kumar.

While others have started speaking about the status of returning migrant workers, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already acted. (Photo: Reuters)

The state government’s package covers all who have been rendered vulnerable and left without a livelihood. The funds will be utilised to provide food and shelter to migrant labourers who have returned and the urban vulnerable population, including rickshaw-pullers and those from other states, stuck at various places in Bihar in the current situation. Kumar has told officials to walk the extra mile to provide relief to the migrants, who have returned to Bihar after Corona crisis. Also, the CM has alerted government officials, telling them to switch to a quick response mode to alleviate the pains of those who have been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis. Top government officials admit that with Nitish Kumar at the helm, the state government’s response system has always performed several notches above the standardised levels during all previous disasters. The state earned accolades while attending to flood victims in the past. Following Kumar’s initiative, the state Disaster Management Department has started the process of setting up special relief camps where mandatory social distancing will be followed.

Migrant workers walk along a road to return to their villages in Bihar during the nationwide lockdown. (Photo: Reuters)

Earlier, the government announced they would give one-month additional salary to doctors and other health department employees. Apart from this, a free one month ration is being provided to 1.68 crore ration cardholders in addition to the bank transfer of Rs 1,000 to each. The state will also pay Rs 1,000 each to around 13 lakh registered construction workers. Besides, 87 lakh pensioners will also get three months pension in advance.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: Nitish Kumar has gone silent again: Why Bihar is about to see major political upheavals