Coronavirus: Bihar Govt To Encourage Doctors, Medical Staff With One Month Basic Pay

The Bihar government on Monday announced that all doctors and medical staff in the state will get an amount equivalent to their one month of basic pay as encouragement for their services during the coronavirus outbreak. Making the announcement, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said families which have ration cards will get free ration for a month while pensioners will be provided 3 months' pension in advance.

All doctors and medical staff in #Bihar will get an amount equivalent to their one month of basic pay as encouragement: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on #CornavirusPandemic https://t.co/4bQ7FKmJEd

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020

“Every family having ration cards in lockdown areas will get Rs 1000. Students of Class 1 to Class 12 will get scholarships till March 31”, said Nitish Kumar.

Earlier on Sunday, Bihar adopted a slew of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak which included complete lockdown in the state. Bihar recorded its first death due to COVID-19 on Sunday.

To curb the transmission of coronavirus, intense screening of passengers is being done at Patna and Gaya airports. The Bihar government has also made special arrangements in order to keep passengers coming from abroad in quarantine, an official statement said.

Also Read: COVID-19: Nitish Kumar Urges Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri To Suspend All Flights To Bihar

"In the wake of Coronavirus, lockdown has been imposed in the state till March 31. All essential services will available," read a statement by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar read.

CM Nitish had also suggested Union Minister of Civil Aviation of India Hardeep Singh Puri to suspend all flights coming to Bihar.

Moreover, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav has demanded a special economic assistance of Rs 6,000 each to the poor to help them fight the situation that has erupted due to coronavirus pandemic.

Also Read: Coronavirus Pandemic | After Delhi, Bihar Announces Complete Lockdown Till March 31

Tejashwi Yadav had also demanded an advance payment of Rs 5,000 and ration to pensioners as well as advance payment of partial salaries to government employees.

(With PTI inputs)