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Lucknow, May 20(UNI) Congress general secretary and in charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has advised UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to launch schemes to provide financial assistance to the people of the state reeling under the second wave of Covid-19.
In a letter to the Chief Minister on Thursday, Ms Vadra claimed that the second wave of Corona pandemic has severely affected the masses and the public had to suffer unbearable pain.
The outcry of the people in April-May made it clear that the government had no plans to counter the second wave of Covid.
"Many unnecessary rules and red tape brought a mountain of trouble for the people. The epidemic has taken thousands and millions of people away from us, on the other hand it has created huge difficulties in front of livelihood, business and business. Today, crores of people are apprehensive about the future, their means of earning have decreased and inflation has increased very fast. This has particularly put the middle class in trouble. Instead of leaving people in these difficult situations , it is necessary that your government go ahead and take some welfare measures so that people can get some relief from their troubles " Ms Vadra said.
In her letter , the Congress leader suggested that apart from government health services, private sector hospitals also played a big role in the epidemic and many non-government hospitals have set exemplary and honest examples of public service.
"But there have also been complaints from across the state of private hospitals charging a hefty amount for treatment from the general public. People who are troubled for their patients are taking loans to pay huge bills and are raising money in some way," she said.
She suggested to the Chief Minister to sit down with the representatives of private hospitals to determine the appropriate and public-friendly prices for treatment, so that neither the hospitals are financially affected nor there is scope for exploitation of the general public. The government should make an arrangement to give compensation to those who have been charged excess money.
Ms Vadra said that due to rising inflation, it is becoming difficult for the common people to buy daily consumption items and essential things. Edible oils, vegetables, fruits, and household use items have come under rapid inflation. Concrete steps should be taken immediately to control inflation in the state and to tie the prices of goods so that people do not face any problem in running the house during this time of home detention.
She said that the people of Uttar Pradesh are already plagued by the increased electricity prices and smart meters. In this era of crisis, they should get relief in electricity bills, but once again there are reports of increase in electricity tariff in Uttar Pradesh. "Please do not increase the price of electricity by a single penny," she pleaded.
The Congress leader said that the schools in the state are closed, but the parents are under pressure to deposit fees every month in the schools. There is also a crisis in front of schools to pay salaries to their teachers etc. The state government should prepare a roadmap with the representatives of the schools and the representatives of the parents, to make a system of giving fee waiver and a package of financial aid to the schools.
"A roadmap should be prepared to give relief to the businessmen and shopkeepers of the state who are facing hard times and they should be given some relief in taxes and duties.
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