[Marxistindia] PM's Announcements: Grossly Inadequate

[news from the cpi(m)]

July 1, 2020
 
Press Statement
 
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:
 
PM's Announcements: Grossly Inadequate 
 
The announcements made by the Prime Minister yesterday are totally
inadequate to meet the crisis of survival and livelihood being faced by
crores of our people.  The provision of 5 kg of foodgrains and 1 kg of
pulses is grossly inadequate to meet the survival needs of the people who
have been deprived of their livelihood or food for over three months.  10 kg
of foodgrain per individual per month for a period of six months is the
minimum that needs to be ensured. 
 
At least 14 crore people have lost their jobs.  Government itself admits
that eight crore migrant workers were on the road for the last two months.
Least required is a cash transfer of Rs. 7,500 per month for six months to
all families outside the tax bracket.  The announced Rs. 500 to all Jan Dhan
accounts is a pittance.  This mocks at people's agonies.
 
The claim to provide jobs to all returned workers under MNREGA is a fallacy.
The provision of 100 days work per year for an additional one crore people
requires an allocation of Rs. 2.46 lakh crores. Budgetary allocations plus
the announced measures during the lockdown amount to less than Rs. 1.5 lakh
crore together. Until gainful employment is realised, unemployment allowance
must be provided across the country.
 
PM Modi claimed that nine crore farmers have benefitted with the direct cash
transfer of Rs. 2,000.  The PM Kisan Yojana was announced on the eve of 2019
general elections. This was to provide three annual instalments of Rs. 2,000
each to 14 crore kisans.  This announcement is the delayed second tranche of
this scheme. This is re-packaging of an earlier announcement and no
additional relief. Further, instead of 14 crore kisans envisaged earlier, it
is now only nine crore.  Five crore kisans are, thus, deprived of even this
measly relief.
 
PM Modi claimed that India, under his government, has commendably combatted
the Covid pandemic.  Even with one of the lowest testing rates in the world,
the positive cases (third highest in the world, after USA and Brazil) and
deaths are rising menacingly.  At least now  the Central government must
augment health facilities on a war-footing, ensure PPEs to all health
workers and provide universal health care.
 
 The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the thousands of crores of
rupees collected, in the name of combating the pandemic, by a private trust
bearing PM's name must be released immediately to ensure: 
 
*	augmentation of public health facilities
*	cash transfer of Rs. 7,500 to all families outside the tax bracket
per month for six months.  
*	10 kg of free foodgrains to every needy person per month for the
next six months.
 
 
 
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