The Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday, announced a COVID-19 relief package of ₹1,250 crore to provide assistance to those affected by current restrictions, employed in the unorganized sector, farmers and so on.
The government will provide ₹3000 each to auto/taxi drivers and construction workers, ₹2000 for workers in the unorganized sector, ₹10,000 to growers for per hectare loss, ₹3000 each to labourers registered with Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and ₹2000 each to unorganized sector workers like barbers, washermen, tailors, porters, ragpickers, potters, goldsmiths, mechanics, blacksmiths, household workers and cobblers. Around 20,000 farmers, 2.10 lakh drivers and 3.04 lakh people in the unorganized sector will benefit from the relief package.
The total relief allocated to farmers is estimated to be around ₹12.73 crore, ₹63 crore for auto, cab and taxi drivers, ₹494 crore for construction workers, and ₹60.89 crore for the unorganized sector. In addition to this, a sum of ₹44 crore has been allocated for roadside vendors and those registered under Aatma Nirbhar package, whose beneficiaries will get ₹2000 each. Artists and art teams will be given ₹3000 each, benefiting 16,095 people and costing a total of ₹4.82 crore.
The Chief Minister stated that the package has been announced, considering the welfare of the people despite the fact that the State is facing financial constraints. He added that a decision would be taken on extending the lockdown, taking into account the surging cases.
Karnataka has purchased an order for over 3 crore vaccine doses costing ₹1,000 crore. The State has received 2 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine on Wednesday. Each Gram Panchayat will be given ₹50,000 from SRDF fund in advance and within a period of 3 days, 2,150 doctors will be appointed to facilitate COVID treatment.
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