Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: In yet another relief measure for the weaker sections of the society, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced financial assistance of Rs 3000 each to street vendors across 114 urban local bodies (ULBs) to deal with the Covid-19 lockdown.

Patnaik said that this will benefit around 65,000 registered street vendors of the 114 municipalities across the State.

The state government also announced to provide free cooked meal to around 10 lakh poor and needy people in rural areas during the lockdown period.

"Cooked food for 100-200 persons in every panchayat would be provided every day with the help of Self Help Groups (SHGs). With this, about 10 lakh poor people will be benefited in the rural areas," said the Chief Minister.

The State government has further asked the District Collectors to provide food to destitute, homeless persons and beggars free of cost in urban areas in this crucial period.

Reportedly, the Housing and Urban Development Department has shot a letter to all the district Collectors asking the senior administrative officials to provide cooked meals, dry and packaged food to the destitute, homeless, beggars and people without food.

On Friday, CM Naveen announced Rs 2200 crore Package to support the needy.

Around 94 lakh beneficiaries under the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department will get financial assistance of Rs 1000 each while 22 lakh Construction Workers will receive Rs 1500 each.

CM Naveen announces package for poor

Citing that the outbreak of the lethal virus has significantly affected the livelihood of the poor, the Chief Minister said that all the beneficiaries of the food security scheme will be getting three months’ ration in advance and all the 94 lakh families under the programme will be getting Rs 1000 cash assistance. All this will entail a total expenditure of Rs 940 crore.

This apart 48 lakh beneficiaries under the social security scheme are getting four month’s pension allowance in advance for which a total expenditure to the tune of Rs 932 crores will be incurred, he said.

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