Cong seeks Rs 7,500 in each Jan Dhan, pension, PM Kisan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 20

The Congress COVID 19 panel led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today demanded direct cash transfer of Rs 7500 to each Jan Dhan, pension and PM Kisan account.

After a meeting of the 11 member panel, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said the committee will within 24 to 48 hours submit a detailed report to the PM on specific measures to be taken for MSME sector and harvest of wheat, mustard and other food grains.

“The most urgent thing right now is direct cash transfer to help lakhs of families to survive. A compassionate and responsible government will and can find the resources to put monies in Jan Dhan accounts; pension accounts of old age, widows and disabled; and PM Kisan. The question is not how fines will be generated. Funds will be generated,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh also said the Government was sleeping and was busy destabilising the MP Government before imposing the lockdown.

“It is a reality that the PM didn’t act with seriousness to deal with the situation. The fact is the country realised only after March 24 lockdown that there was a major crisis at hand. The Government knew since January what was happening. But I don’t want to go into history right now and we did not discuss these issues today in our meeting. Today is not the time for blame game. That we can do later. Today we discussed measures to be adopted for migrant labourers, poor and MSME sector during lockdown,” Ramesh said.

He said the Congress was working on a comprehensive revival plan for MSME sector, the second largest employer in the country and will submit specific suggestions to the government.

Ramesh said the Government has taken some welfare measures but those are not adequate.

“We will make suggestions and hope the Government takes our suggestions in the spirit of positive cooperation,” Ramesh said.