Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday sought financial support from the Centre during a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the interaction with the Prime Minister, Conrad Sangma said all states have financial issues with debts and taxes during this time of crisis.
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“All states have financial issues with debts and taxes. Therefore, we seek financial help and assistance from the Centre,” chief minister Sangma said while interacting with Modi via video conferencing on Monday evening.
Economic planning and support to states should be accorded priority by the central government, he suggested.
Stating that micro management of the situation is very important and each state should be allowed to take its own decisions, Sangma said Meghalaya has constituted its Economic Task Force to look into boosting the state’s economy during this time.
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“We are pushing for a regional economic zone and we seek the PM’s support to promote this. Two different approaches are being followed across the world — to close down or open; herd immunity,” said Sangma.
“We are a big nation, and different strategies will work at different levels and we need to think of a different strategy to combat this disease,” he said.
Health infrastructure should be improved in the state and the Central government should allow states to decide on defining the zones and containment area.
It is important to make economic zones regional for the benefit of all states.
“There are two approaches, one you open everything and another you continue with the lockdown. Every area and region must have different strategies and a community strategy must be put in place in states,” the CM said.
The Meghalaya CM suggested that large gathering should not be permitted.
“Travel restriction including inter-state movement should continue and travel should be minimised,” Sangma said.
He also suggested that elderly people be requested to remain indoors and all must protect the senior citizens.
Sangma said the biggest challenge for us will be for people coming back from different parts of the country.
“Same policies will not work in the whole country. We must continue following guidelines like avoiding large gatherings.”
“To keep the virus in check, inter-state movement should be minimised. We need to prepare economic planning structure and strengthen health infrastructure,” he added.