CM Suggests 15-point Issues To PM to Fight Corona Virus
Jaipur. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot has thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for applauding the initiatives taken by Rajasthan Government for combating COVID-19 pandemic. The PM discussed these steps taken by the state government during the video conferencing with the CMs of various states on Monday.
During the conference the PM suggested that those Chief Ministers could not get time to put their views during the meeting, could send the same in writing. In continuation to this, CM Shri Gehlot forwarded the 15-point note on Monday itself asking the union government to provide a bigger economic support to the states and a stimulus package for the trade and industry sectors.
States Should Be Given Grant Of Rs. One Lakh CroreShri Gehlot said that there has been adverse effect on revenue collection of the States due to lockdown. Therefore, the States should be provided a grant of Rs One Lakh Crore. The basis to give grant could be per person population or the impact of outbreak of Covid-19 or the standards prescribed by the GST Council or the Interstate Council.
Increase GST Compensation To 10 YearsThe Chief Minister said that the revenue loss compensation given to the States for five years since implementation of GST should now be increased to 10 years looking to the local circumstances and economic situation of every state.
Six-Month Moratorium On Payment Of Loan InstalmentsShri Gehlot said that six-month interest-free moratorium should be granted on payment of instalments of principal amount and the interest of the loans taken by the State Government, its Boards, Corporations or Companies (including Power Companies) from the Union Government and its various institutions such as the Power Finance Corporation.
Purchase Up To 50% Of Agriculture Produce On MSPShri Gehlot said, “Our priority should be to provide support to farmers at this hour of crisis.” He said that the farmers should get fair price on their produce for which it is important that the limit of purchase on minimum support price (MSP) should be increased from 25% to 50% of the total agriculture production.
Provide Bigger Stimulus Package to Industry and TradeChief Minister said that the pandemic affected the industry and trade badly. Industrial activities have come to standstill in last one and a half months. The Centre should provide a big economic stimulus package to bail out the trade and industry sector. The package should be like the one given during the premiership of Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008. Big packages have been announced by the countries like the US, UK, Japan etc during the corona crisis.
Fiscal Expenditure Should Be Encouraged To Bail Out EconomyThe CM said that the fiscal expenditure should be encouraged to bail out the economy at this challenging time. For this, the Union Government should immediately release the first installment of its share of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the process of releasing the amount should also be simplified.
Scheme For Payment Of Salary To LabourersShri Gehlot further said that most of the MSME industries had closed due to lockdown. These industries are not in a position to pay the salaries and wages to their labourers. The centre should take a decision in regard to the payment of a part of the salaries to these labourers for six months. Many countries have taken a policy decision to bail out these industries and the Government of India should also come up with such a scheme, he suggested.
National Plan To Be Made To Ferry Migrant LabourersChief Minister said that after 35 days of nationwide lockdown a big number of migrant labourers and small shopkeepers residing in other states had made their minds to visit their families at least once. They are passing through mental agony for not being with their families. Earlier too, the attention of the Centre was drawn to this. He said that the Centre should hold discussions with the all the States and come out with a plan so that these labourers or other migrants could be sent to their native places in a phased manner through interstate transportation or by special trains.
Restore Interstate Supply ChainShri Gehlot said that it would take some time for the economic activities to resume and come on tracks till the supply chain between the States was restored. He said that the interstate supply chain needed to be made effective for smooth functioning of the retail businesses, for which the Government of India should take some early action. States Should Get Freedom For Economic and Industrial Activities”It is important to reactivate the economic activities, trade and industries in phased manner during the modified lockdown. Local situation of every State differs and in such situation, the Union Government should give freedom to the States to decide their own standards and methods at local level for lifting the bans instead of nationwide regulations,” he added.
There Should Be Centralised Purchase of Medical EquipmentChief Minister said that for a effectively fight with corona virus, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, masks, testing kits, ventilators etc. of international quality standards should have been purchased by the Government of India. Then, these items should be made available to the States as per their requirement.
Base of Food Security Should Be On 2019-20 PopulationShri Gehlot said that the lists of National Food Security Act Scheme (NFSA) beneficiaries had been prepared on the basis of 2011 Census. Presently, the number of beneficiaries had increased and thus, the beneficiaries’ lists should be on basis of the estimated population of 2019-20.
Ways and Means Advance Should be Interest FreeThe CM welcomed the decision of increasing the limit for Ways and Means Advance to 60% and further demanded that this full rebate should be given on interest on this advance to the states.
Increase Net Loan Limit To 5 Per CentShri Gehlot said that the limit of net loan that the States could take should be increased to 5% from 3% without any conditions. He said that the Rajasthan government was taking all necessary steps to provide support to the needy, destitute and helpless people during these testing times. This permission should be given to the state so that there was no dearth of financial resources, he added.
Provide GST Compensation And CST Claim Amount At EarliestChief Minister further asked the centre to immediately provide the GST Compensation and CST claims to the States facing severe revenue deficit. He said that the States were under severe economic pressure as these huge amounts had not been given on time.
