Centre’s package nothing but loan mela, says Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot led the Congress online campaign to draw attention towards the plight of migrants and workers affected by the countrywide lockdown for two months.
Gehlot in a message under the Speak-Up India campaign said the Congress president had extended unconditional support to the central government to fight the corona pandemic and suggested various measures to alleviate the misery of the poor including migrant labourers and workers. But the central government ignored the suggestions by the opposition leaders including former party president Rahul Gandhi.
He said Rahul Gandhi had been consistent in his demand for cash transfers to the poor. This would not only help their survival but generate demand in the economy, he said.
He said the package announced by the Centre was nothing but a loan mela which would not benefit the poor.
Pilot said lockdown 4.0 was about to end, but there was no strategy or roadmap in sight. He said the virus was still very active and people were suffering. He said the Centre had not extended help to states which are in the forefront in the fight against corona.
“We have been demanding a national policy on migrants,” he said.
He said the Centre should immediately transfer Rs 7,500 to the accounts of migrants, Rs 10,000 to all non-income tax payers and an increase in mandays under NREGA, he demanded. Pilot said NREGA is the only source of income for the rural people now.