Don’t panic, Sonia urges people

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 21

Asserting that the entire country stands united in the fight against Covid19 and urging people not to panic, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today asked the Centre to announce steps to assist those affected most, including a comprehensive sector-wise relief package to support those hit by its economic fallout.

“India will not bow to this painful crisis. Let us stand united in braving this challenge. Together we will overcome this,” she said in a statement in which she said the Prime Minister and the government must act on some key issues.

The Congress president suggested ramping up testing facilities across the country, make public details of hospitals and facilities through a dedicated portal, special budgetary allocation to augment these facilities, grant special financial incentives for doctors, nurses and supporting staff.

Pointing to reports suggesting scarcity of personal protection equipment, including N95 masks, gloves, face shields, goggles, head covers, rubber boots and disposable gowns for medical teams dealing with the infected or suspected, she said it was a matter of grave concern.

Suggesting that efforts should be made to address artificial shortage and black marketing of hand sanitisers, face masks and liquid soaps, she said what was unnerving is that prices of essential commodities like vegetables, pulses and rice seem to be rising unchecked.

On the plight of daily wage earners, farm labour and others suffering because of economic downturn due to Covid19, as also reports of massive layoff and retrenchment even of regular workers, the government should put in place broad-based social protection measures, including direct cash financial help and special relief package for agriculture sector too.

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. A comprehensive, sector-wise relief package needs to be announced forthwith by the government, including necessary tax breaks, interest subvention and deferment of liabilities. For the salaried class, the government and the RBI must consider a deferment of EMIs.” the Congress chief said noting that all businesses, especially the micro, small and medium ones, were under a huge stress on account of the outbreak.