Centre’s package doesn’t help poor people: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the financial stimulus package announced by the Centre is in no way connected to the pandemic situation prevailing in the country. The package should have been given more focus on the public health instead of announcing privatization which is no way connected with the present situation.
“Not even 5% of the total package announced will reach the hands of the common man. At the same time tax relaxation has been given liberally to corporates. The major chunk of the package announced is nothing but funds provided by banks to farmers and small scale industries,” said the chief minister.
The Centre was much eager in announcing the privatization of public sector undertakings at this time. Instead of strengthening the PSUs, the Centre has been trying to privatize them ever since the present government had come to power. But the state does not support this move, he added.
The lockdown had badly affected the micro, small and medium enterprises. In the manufacturing sector the state had recorded 11.2% growth in the 2018-19 fiscal. Of this, the contribution of MSME sector was immense, he added.
He lauded the decision taken to increase the borrowing limit for the state but objected to the conditions set for it.