Maharashtra government has started preparations to impose a lockdown in the state to prevent spread of covid, for which a day-long meeting was held on Monday. As per sources, the Lockdown is likely to be imposed from April 15 to April 30.
On Monday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had a discussion with Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar regarding the lockdown and providing assistance to those will be impacted by the lockdown. Earlier, Ajit Pawar called a meeting of ministers and officials of the concerned department.
Sources said that plans are being made to expand the scope of Shivbhojan Thali so that more people can get avail it's benefits, besides supplying rice, wheat, pulses, sugar and oil from ration shops.
Apart from that, the scheme of providing wheat at Rs 8 per kg and rice at Rs 12 per kg to people below the poverty line, which was closed from November, is also being revived. Instead of handing out utensils to 10 lakh registered construction workers, plans are afoot to immediately deposit Rs 5,000 each in their bank accounts. Sources also said that the package prepared by the finance department has been sent to the chief minister for final approval. It is learned that public transport including air, train and bus will operate during the lockdown.
The package will be given to the poor who will be impacted by the lockdown. Despite the dire economic situation in the state, it is imperative to help the poor who are going to be hit by the lockdown without considering the current situation and it will be provided to them, said Ajit Pawar in the meeting.