The Tripura government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 1,000 each to 372 newspaper hawkers in the state.

The state government has taken the decision to extend support to the newspaper hawkers, who have been severely hit due to the nationwide lockdown imposed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nationwide lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 24 midnight as a preventive measure to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact, the newspaper owners and publishers had shut down their daily publications from March 24.

Also read: Coronavirus scare: No newspaper in Tripura

All the major daily newspapers started running only the online editions or PDF versions of their dailies

Some newspapers distributed their PDF versions through social sites like WhatsApp or Facebook messengers.

The COVID19 scare and lockdown badly affected the hawkers as they earn their livelihood only by distributing newspapers to the subscribers and other readers.

The newspaper hawkers will be provided the financial assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).

Informing about the government’s decision, chief minister Deb tweeted on Saturday: “Our Govt has decided to provide Rs. 1000 to 372 newspaper hawkers each.”

“The financial assistance will be provided from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. We took the decision so that the newspapers hawkers don’t face any problem during the lockdown,” he added.

Earlier, the state government decided to provide free ration for one month to the newspaper hawkers.