Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday, 27 March, announced a Rs 2,200-crore financial package to assist the weaker sections of the society, which are grappling under the unprecedented lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The package will benefit about 1.64 crore people of the state’s total population of 4.5 crore.
“The novel coronavirus has emerged as a major crisis for people across the globe. This crisis has affected the life and livelihood of our poor people. Therefore, I announce a special package of Rs 2,200 crore for the welfare of the poor.”Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Chief Minister
Patnaik said that all the 94 lakh poor families covered under the food security scheme will get financial assistance of Rs 1,000 each. The Odisha government has started providing foodgrains for three months to all the beneficiaries, he added.
It is also providing advance social security pension for three months to the beneficiaries. The state will bear an expenditure of around Rs 932 crore towards this measure, the chief minister said.
Similarly, 22 lakh construction workers will get Rs 1,500 each for the losses incurred due to the lockdown, Patnaik said.
Three people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)