Coronavirus Lockdown: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray Welcomes Centre's Economic Package

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday welcomed the economic package announced by the Centre to ease the impact of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, saying it will provide relief to the poor and those working in the unorganized sector.

The government on Thursday announced a Rs 1.7-lakh crore stimulus that included free foodgrain and cooking gas to the poor for three months, and cash doles to women and senior citizens as it looked to ease the economic impact of the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

Thackeray asked the authorities in the state to ensure the people in the state benefit from the package. He said decisions like providing essential commodities free of cost to the poor, free LPG cyinder under Ujjwala scheme, foodgrains at affordableprices, Rs 2,000 for farmers under the Shetkari Sanman Yojana will help ensure the daily life of vulnerable sections of people is not adversely affected.

The chief minister also appreciated the decison to deposit Rs 1,000 in the Jan Dhan bank accounts of the poor, senior citizens, handicapped and widows.

The death count in India has reached 16 due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country. According to the latest update, a total of 651 cases of coronavirus has been reported in India so far. Union health ministry asserted that the rate of increase in the positive cases was "relatively stable" in India.

Also Read: Coronavirus Pandemic: PM Modi Urges G20 Leaders For Concrete Action Plan To Fight Against COVID-19

It is worth mentioning here that the novel coronavirus, which originated in China, has claimed thousands of lives across the world. With no known cure so far for the coronavirus, the deadly disease has become a major issue for the entire world.

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