Like some other states in the country, the Tripura government has also declared package for the people who are facing problem due to the ongoing lockdown.
The 21-day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 24 midnight as a preventive measure to contain the spread of COVID19.
On Tuesday the Tripura Cabinet decided to release a package of Rs 233 crore for the support of the downtrodden people.
Tripura education minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday declared this package during a press conference on Tuesday night at the state secretariat.
This package is especially for the economically weaker section of the people affected by the 21-day lockdown imposed as a measure to contain the spread of COVID19.
Minister Nath said, “Through this package, around 25 lakh people of the total 40 lakh population will get rice free of cost for one month.”
“This will be in addition to the benefits declared by the government for the downtrodden people,” he said.
Earlier, the state government announced free rice for 15 days for the economically weaker section of people.
The package includes free rice to BPL families, priority group and 50,000 APL families, who are financially weaker section, for the next one month.
“A total of 6.29 lakh families will be benefited through this decision,” said Ratan Lal Nath.
The government will provide food for the homeless people, labourers, prostitutes, and rickshaw pullers.
“Rice, oil, potato, onion, dal and salt will be provided in packets. They will cook the food,” said Nath.
He said 40,000 workers engaged in the construction sector would also get government assistance.
“The government will deposit Rs 3,000 in their bank accounts,” the minister announced.
He added, “Now the schools are closed. For the students, who get mid-day meal in schools, the government will deposit the cost of one month’s mid-day meal in their families’ accounts.”
“The food will be provided to the homemakers who are lactating mothers, pregnant mothers and the Anganwadi children,” said Nath.
The government will also deposit two-month pension in advance who are getting social pensions and 4 lakh people will be benefited by this decision, said Nath.
Nath further added that the Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to amend MLALAD schemes enabling the MLAs to allocate Rs. 10 lakh for procuring protective kits.
He said, “From April 1 all the tea gardens will start functioning and the tea garden workers will get daily work. The state government is also thinking to do anything for the brick field workers.”
Nath said the state government will also arrange bus for transportation of the daily newspapers in different sub-divisions of the state.
“The newspaper hawkers will also get free rice for one month,” he added.
“A total of 7,944 travellers are under surveillance while 1,183 people have been released after 14 days of observation in quarantine,” he informed.
“While 167 people are residing in surveillance facility, over 6,000 people are in home isolation. Till now, the state has no positive case,” said the education minister.
