Congress offers suggestions for Covid control, financial relief in Assam

Hon’ble Chief Minister,

Greetings! First of all, congratulations to your party on winning the election.

Sir, there is a resurgence Covid-19 in Assam and is becoming deadlier than before. We all know that the first wave of Covid-19 has severely damaged the socio-economic system of our state.

The State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) had, in a government-sponsored report on Covid-19, stated that the epidemic would increase poverty to affect about 50 per cent of Assam’s population and increase the state’s unemployment rate from 16 per cent to 27 per cent.

According to SITA, the livelihoods of about 67 lakh people in Assam will be at risk due to the epidemic. Further, business, transport, construction, tourism and hospitality will be particularly affected. SITA recommended some special measures to be taken by the government, especially for the unorganised sector, industry sector and agriculture sector.

Similarly, the Subhash Das Committee constituted by the Government of Assam in its report on Covid-19 also emphasised on skill development.

Currently there is a limited lockdown in Assam and there are signs of a complete lockdown in the near future. Therefore, I urge you to take the following steps without delay as per the report of SITA and Subhash Das Committee:

1. The vaccination process should be completed expeditiously by providing adequate number of vaccines to the entire state.
2. Adequate supply of oxygen cylinders should be maintained in the state along with setting up of temporary Covid clinics in each district.
3. Families below the poverty line should be provided financial assistance of up to Rs. 5,000 per month by the Government till the situation is alleviated. This financial assistance should be provided to the people involved in the unorganised sector, middle class, small businessmen and middle-class employees of private institutions.
4. According to the recommendations of SITA and Subhash Das Committee, special financial assistance should be provided to all the farmers as they are likely to be affected again due to limited lockdown.
5) Tea plantations in Assam and the markets in the area are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 infection.  Since it is not possible to completely shut down the tea gardens, the gardens need to be managed by a limited number of workers. Provision should be made for regular payment of wages and rations to all the workers who will be temporarily suspended.
6. Just as it is very important to provide treatment to patients suffering from Covid-19, it is equally important to provide proper treatment to patients suffering from heart disease, accident victims, high blood pressure, etc. outside of Covid-19.  Therefore, a specific treatment should be reserved for these patients at the sub-divisional level.
7) This complex situation should ensure that the education of the students is not disrupted at all. For that, online education should be conducted at different levels of education and for that, the financially weak students should be provided with a single smartphone by the government.

We hope you take the above suggestions seriously and take the necessary steps.
 

Sd/-
Debabrata Saikia,

Leader of Assam Congress Legislature Party