Details
hegdekiran17@gmail.com
The congress working committee (CWC) demands an Economic Task Force to minimize the adverse impact of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s economy.
“In an emergency meeting of CWC, it was unanimously decided to write a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his regard. The acting chief of Congress Soniya Gandhi holds the CWC meeting through video conferencing day before yesterday.”
The CWC is of the opinion that the government has not given any thought whatsoever to the deteriorating economic situation. This does not brook any delay. Many useful ideas are on the table. The CWC demands that the government should immediately appoint an Economic Task Force consisting of world-renowned economists to suggest three plans: (1) an emergency plan within one week; (2) a short to medium term plan within one month; and (3) a medium to the long term plan within three months in order to protect and revive the economy.
“From the day the first case tested positive in India, Congress has extended its total support to the central and state governments in their efforts to deal with the grave and unfolding circumstances. The Congress pledges to continue its unstinted support. In our united fight against COVID-19, we want to especially thank our doctors, nurses, health workers, Safai Karamcharis, Police Personnel and employees of every central and state government departments providing essential services to the people for their courage and services, says CWC.”
“Thirdly, maintenance of a supply of goods and services so that people locked down in their homes can access their daily household needs; Fourthly, preparatory and pre-emptive measures to deal with a sliding economy so that levels of current employment and wages are maintained, business failures of MSMEs are averted, and the groundwork is laid to re-start the engines of economic growth; Fifthly, make adequate and comprehensive preparations for immediate harvesting and procurement of Wheat and other Rabi crops at the minimum support price. Let’s not forget that everything can wait but agriculture cannot, says CWC.”
It is in a spirit of co-operation and constructive criticism that the CWC wishes to point out that the measures are taken by the Modi government so far leave much to be desired and there are several grave shortcomings. It is imperative that we address these shortcomings.
“On containment and treatment, the government has erred in adopting a strategy of limited testing. A lockdown or any other kind of restrictions is futile unless it is accompanied by extensive testing. It is extensive testing that has yielded results in some countries. Inexplicably, we have not put to full use even our limited testing capacity. The flawed strategy must be revised and testing must be scaled up urgently. Simultaneously, the government must undertake massive production and procurement of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Hazmat suits, body overalls, goggles, gloves, N-95 masks, ventilators, etc. and make them widely available to Doctors, Nurses, Health Workers as also hospitals and all other personnel. Medical infrastructure should be expanded on a war footing with more isolation wards, hospital beds, testing labs, quarantine facilities, etc. Supply of drugs must be maintained at pre-February levels and all drug stores must be directed and facilitated to function for an adequate number of hours a day, says CWC.”
“Regrettably, the government has miserably failed to provide adequate livelihood support to the poor. The Financial Action Plan I announced on 25 March 2020 was miserly, hopelessly inadequate and left out several vulnerable sections of the people. Financial Action Plan I failed to instill confidence in the poor and, as a result, we witnessed the tragic spectacle of thousands of migrant workers desperately trying to go back to their villages by any means whatsoever, including on foot. That spectacle will forever remain a blot on the Modi government. The CWC demands that the government should immediately announce Financial Action Plan II that will reassure the poor people and also provide adequate financial support to the sections that were left out including farmers, tenant farmers, landless agricultural workers, MGNREGA workers without MGNREGA work, laid-off industrial workers, Jan Dhan account holders (whether men or women), etc. Congress president had written to the prime minister for immediate transfer of Rs. 7500 to every Jan Dhan Account, every PM Kisan Account to tide over the 21-day crisis and this suggestion should be immediately accepted by the government. Also, the supply of 10 kg free ration to every individual through PDS for the 21 day lockdown period needs to be implemented. It is the foremost duty of the government to ensure shelter, rent relief, wages, and food to the poor. The NYAY scheme put forward by Congress offers a useful model that can be adapted and implemented.”
“Wheat and other Rabi crops are ready for harvesting in North and central India. If harvesting and procurement at MSP don’t take place forthwith, it would put the food security of India under a question mark. The onus lies on Central Government to gear up procurement through FCI and other agencies and ensure remunerative prices for the farmers.”
“Supply chains to crores of people, especially those living in towns, cities and remote villages have been severely disrupted by poor preparation and thoughtless orders and notifications. If people have to survive in a lockdown, these supply chains must be immediately restored and maintained throughout the period of restrictions. In order to give relief to the people, the Congress commends to the government a number of small steps such as cutting GST rates for a period of three months on goods of mass consumption, mandatorily postponing tax payment deadlines and EMI dates to 30 June 2020 and beyond, restoring the thoughtless reduction in interest rates on PPF and small savings, etc. Each step, though small, will bring significant comfort to the people in these difficult and stressful times, it added.”
