From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru: Mar 26: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for rolling out Garib Kalyan scheme of Rs 1.7 lakh crore when country is struggling hard to fight covid-19 menace.

He said, “Prime minister's decision of announcing various sops and subsidies for the poor, farmers, women, aged and widows and the people working organized sector will prevent the poor and other people suffering from hunger. This scheme will allow farmers, women, laborers and the poor to lead a hunger free life at this crisis facing the humanity,’’ he said in a press statement.

The decision to extend Rs 2000 advance to farmers under Kisan Samman yojana, Rs 500 monthly to Jana Dhan accounts, three free gas cylinders under Uajala Yojana to more than 8 crore women, raising of Loan amount from Rs 10 lakh to 20 lakh benefitting more than 63 lakh women SHGs, hike in wages under MGNREGA from Rs 182 to Rs 202 and sanctioning loan to EPF account holders is a drastic step taken by the union government to help the poor, he said.

Yediyurappa said the most striking feature the package was the Garib Kalyan Yojana for supply of five kg rice or wheat and one kg pulses to 80 crore people. This will make people living under poverty line self-sufficient in food and protect them from hunger when they remain indoor during this lock down period.

The decision to give Rs 1000 ex-gratia to old and widows will also help the poor aged and women in the country, he said adding the decision to give various subsidies and finance benefits to industries, and organized sector workers will go a long way in stabilizing country's economy which remains paralyzed from COVID-19 pandemic.

State Govt employees to contribute one-day salary

Nearly six lakh employees of the State Government have decided to donate a day’s salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund COVID-19.

The Karnataka Government Employees Association (KGEA) President C S Shadakshari on Thursday consulted all districts presidents of the association and decided to donate one day’s salary to the Fund to utilize in providing health care to the needy people suffered from Corona virus.

A letter stating the employees’ commitment to donate a day’s salary to the Fund was handed over to the Chief Minister, he said.

Shadakshari said donations would be given either in the March or April month salary.

All government employee’s one day’s salary would be amounted to Rs 200 crore.