The poverty level has increased due to Corona. They need a relief package. The outbreak of epidemic is also high, but the government is not putting a complete lockdown. In this connection, a report has been presented by Azim Premji University.
Corona epidemic demands complete lockdown
The country’s economy has suffered a severe setback due to the Corona epidemic. Due to this, the jobs of millions of people have been lost. The second wave of Corona has made the problem more serious. This had the greatest impact on the people of the low-income group. According to a report by Azim Premji University, to reduce the economic impact on low income people due to COVID-19, a relief package of Rs 8 lakh crore is needed. But this time no announcement has been made by the government so far. It is believed that the government wants to avoid giving relief packages. This is the reason why complete lockdown is not being imposed in the country.
This report of Azim Premji University has been prepared on the basis of data received from Consumer Pyramid Household Survey, Premji Foundation and many other civil society organizations. Several important changes have been recommended in this report by the university, so that the corona affected victims can get benefit. In this regard, the university’s economics professor Amit Basole released the report and said that the measures we have proposed are 4.5 percent of the total GDP of this year by the Government of India. It will cost between last or about 8 lakh crores rupees.
These suggestions given in the report
Some suggestions have been made in the report by Azim Premji University so that people can get relief during the Corona period. In which a demand has been made from the government to allow cash transfer of Rs 5,000 for three months as it can be reached in many homes with the existing digital infrastructure. Apart from this, it has been suggested to increase the eligibility of MNREGA to 150 days and revise the state wages to minimum wages. In the report, it has been said to increase the budget of MNREGA to 1.75 lakh crore rupees.
30 percent cardholders did not get grain
Announcements were made by the government to give free ration to ration card holders during the Corona period, but about 30 percent of PDS priority ration card holders have not been able to get food. According to the university report, the situation is worse in Karnataka and Rajasthan. Most of the people here have not been able to get the benefit of the scheme.
1.5 crore workers become unemployed
According to the State of the Work Report 2021, about 230 million people have fallen below the national minimum wage poverty line due to the impact of COVID-19. Also, about 1.5 crore workers have become unemployed. Formal salaried workers shifted to informal work as self-employed (30 per cent), contingent salaries (10 per cent) or informal salaried (9 per cent) workers in late 2019 and by the end of 2020. The highest poverty increased in April and May. During this period, 20 percent of the families lost their entire income.
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