Chandigarh, May 16

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to provide Rs 2 lakh compensation to Covid victim families, a monthly pension of Rs 6,000 to Covid orphans and monthly cash assistance of Rs 6,000 per month to all BPL families for a six-month period.

“It has already been pointed out how private hospitals are charging Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for Covid treatment. Similarly, there is a free for all as far as life-saving drugs and injections are concerned,” Sukhbir said. He demanded the government should provide monthly cash assistance of Rs 6,000 to all BPL families and taxi drivers for a period of six months to help them tide through the crisis.

He said the compensation for Covid-hit registered labourers should be increased to Rs 3,000 from the present Rs 1,500 and in case any member of their family was infected, the compensation should be increased to Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 3,000. — TNS

50 Oxygen concentrators for Bathinda AIIMS

Bathinda: The SAD has handed over 50 concentrators to AIIMS, Bathinda, to help it increase its level-2 beds to provide affordable healthcare services to Covid patients. Ex-CPS Sarup Chand Singla handed over the concentrators on behalf of MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal to the institute.