CM announces restricted relaxation for tea gardens, essential producers

MP | 9 April 2020 | Kolkata: Assessing that the lockdown period would extend after April 15 to check the spread of COVID-19, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday decided to give relaxation on functioning of tea gardens and essential commodity producing units, on condition that only 15 percent of the total manpower can work at a time maintaining all precautions.

This comes when the Chief Minister has taken a humane move and asked industrialists to extend support to people from unorganised sectors using 50 percent of the total amount they targeted to donate in the state relief fund. The total donation amount has not crossed Rs 100 crore yet.

Production and manufacturing units that require "continuous process" can also operate with 15 percent manpower, provided necessary approval is given by the state government. At the same time, the state government has encouraged home delivery of goods from small shops in different areas as well.

"But people should maintain safe distance and take other precautionary measures. The next two to three weeks are vulnerable as more people are getting infected with the disease," said the Chief Minister, stating that she feels bad as people are facing difficulties due to the lockdown.

Banerjee said that as many as 12 people have tested positive in the past 24 hours. But the good news is that three have tested negative and at present, 80 people are suffering from the disease in the state. She also stated that a mobile app named Sandhane is being used by ASHA workers for carrying out survey to check the spread of COVID-19.

She held a marathon meeting with representatives of different chambers of commerce, industrialists, traders, small scale industry, retail chain authorities, rice mill owners and drug and medicine suppliers at Nabanna Sabhaghar on Thursday, to discuss the problems they are facing due to the lockdown.

The final decision on its extension may come up after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with all Chief Ministers on April 11. The Chief Minister has also discussed about introducing a policy to make a few taxis available at different stands, in which maximum four people including the driver can travel.

In the same breath she stated that in MSME sector work can be carried out by engaging not more than seven people and one or two people can transport their produce during the lockdown period. She also spoke about the provision of carrying out work in small scale industries by engaging lesser number of people in different shifts.

She also stated that free of cost ration will also be given to 1.5 crore more people at least for three months, while 2 kg rice and potatoes will be distributed among ICDS and midday meal beneficiaries in the beginning of May.

She also announced the extension of deadline for renewal of different licenses by the state government to June 30. The state government is also providing all support to more than 2 lakh migrant labourers from 16 states in Bengal, who are staying at 711 shelters across the state.

Banerjee also directed to take people to ESI Hospital at Uluberia and Sanjivani Hospital where there are 300 beds, instead of the Howrah District Hospital, as a senior official of the hospital has tested positive.