Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday announced a ₹20,000-crore stimulus plan to cushion the economic impact of COVID-19 in Kerala, revitalise key sectors and to recapture normal social life in the State.
Briefing mediapersons here on Thursday, Mr. Vijayan said the Finance Department and Planning Board were studying how COVID-19 had impacted various sectors
After two consecutive days of no new positive cases, a lone positive case was reported from Kasaragod on Thursday. The patient is a UAE returnee who had already been in quarantine.
The number of cases in Kerala in the second wave of COVID-19 is thus 25. A total of 31,173 persons are under surveillance, with another 6,103 people newly added on Thursday. But only 237 are isolated in hospitals while the rest are in self-quarantine in homes.
Pensions
The pensions for March and April would be disbursed this month itself. Regardless of APL/BPL status, all families would be given a months’ supply of foodgrains.
The government was expediting the opening of the chain of fair price eateries it had announced earlier. Instead of September, these eateries will now be opened in April and meals would be made available at ₹20.
Mr. Vijyan said ₹14,000 crore was being set aside for the arrears of contract payments in various sectors.
He announced relief in fitness charges for autorickshaws and taxis, three months’ relief in the payment of taxes by buses and a month’s allowance in paying electricity and water bills. Cinemas would get a waiver on entertainment taxes.
Keeping in mind that the possibility of community transmission of COVID-19 in the State could be very real and that extensive preparedness was necessary to manage a potential public health crisis, Mr. Vijayan said he had sought and ensured the cooperation of army and paramilitary forces ahead to help manage the situation.
Defence forces have offered the services of their technical staff, doctors, paramedics, ambulances and the use of helicopters if required to evacuate patients. They would also help with temporary hospital beds and other hospital supplies.
