Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Guaba today held video conference meeting with Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to review disbursement of financial assistance and other benefits as part of relief package announced by the Government under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) for the poor to help them fight the battle against Coronavirus.
The meeting was attended by Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Secretary Health, Preeti Sudan and other Secretaries of concerned Ministries.
Chief Secretary, BVR Subhramanyam, DGP J&K, Dilbag Singh, Financial Commissioner, Health, Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Home, Shaleen Kabra, IGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh and MD NHM, Bhupinder Kumar participated in the meeting.
Cabinet Secretary asked the States/UTs to be fully prepared for disbursement of PMGKY relief package as the funds have to be transferred into the accounts of the beneficiaries through DBT mode. He said that more bank staff should be allowed to attend their duties and movement passes need to be provided to them for the purpose.
The meeting was informed that under the relief package, 20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders will get Rs 500 per month for next three months, ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 to 3 crore poor senior citizen, poor widows and poor disabled and Rs 2,000 to be given to the farmers in first week of April under existing PM Kisan Yojana to benefit 8.7 crore farmers.
He asked the Chief Secretaries to convene SLBC meetings and discuss the plan of action with the Regional/Zonal heads of both Public and Private Banks operational in their respective States/UTs. Further, the Deputy Commissioners at district level should also take meetings with the banks to finalize arrangements in this regard.
Cabinet Secretary also asked the States/UTs to ensure smooth distribution of ration under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) in which 80 crore poor people in the country will get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months.
Meanwhile, the meeting held threadbare discussions on isolation facilities that have been created by the States/UTs to treat coronavirus patients. The Cabinet Secretary complimented all the States/UTs for their efforts in combating the disease and said that we need to remain more alert and active to get things in our control. He asked to notify and publicize the hospitals that have been dedicated as Covid-19 hospitals and to equip them with all required necessary medical facilities.
With regard to the measures that have taken to curb the rumor mongering, the meeting was apprized that the Information & Broadcast Ministry has created a cell to burst fake news circulating among people on coronavirus. All States/UTs were also asked to create such cells to have a strong check on circulation of fake news that may cause panic among common masses.
While discussing the efforts of States/UTs for containment of virus, he asked for aggressive contact tracing and to put all those people in isolation to control the spread.
Similarly, the Cabinet Secretary emphasized on maintaining supply chain, ensuring uninterrupted movement of essential goods and putting strong check on movement of migrant labors.
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