Karnataka govt announces ₹1,610 cr relief package for farmers, MSMEs & others amid Covid

Karnataka government on Wednesday has anunced ₹ 1,610 crore relief pack for farmers, MSMEs, handloom weavers, flower growers, washermen, barbers, auto, and taxi drivers among ors. This comes as state reported 19 more COVID19 cases taking total toll at 692.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that relief pack will provide Rs 5000 to 230,000 barbers and 775,000 drivers in state. It will also provide Rs 5000 each to more than 7.75 lakh auto-rickshaw drivers. Furr, he said that flower growers will be given one-time compensation of Rs 25000 per hectare.  Chief Minister also anunced a new scheme, Weaver Samman Yojana (Nekarara Sammana yojane) for benefit of suffering weavers.

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As per health update on Wednesday, state has reported a total of 692 cases. While 345 people have been discharged, it has reported 29 deaths. 

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Details on relief pack

government also anunced an 11 percent excise duty hike, which is in dition to six percent anunced in budget.  relief pack also waives monthly fixed charges of electricity bills of MSMEs for two months. It also waives off penalty and interest for a period of two months in payment of fixed charges in electricity bills of large industries.

Chief Minister anunced certain benefits for electricity consumers of all categories. Stating that his government has alrey anunced Rs 109 crore weavers loan Waiver scheme, of which Rs 29 crore has been released during 2019-20, he said that balance amount of Rs 80.00 crore would be released immediately to help weavers.

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Under his new scheme, he said that his government would deposit Rs 2,000 directly into bank account of handloom weaver through  DBT. This will benefit about 54,000 handloom weavers in state, he said. relief pack also states that in dition to Rs 2,000 to bank account of 11.80 lakh building workers through DBT, state will transfer an ditional amount of Rs 3,000.

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India's Covid lockdown 

Last week, Ministry of Home Affairs issued a tification extending nationwide lockdown by 2 weeks till May 17 for third time. On Tuesday, Telangana government anunces extension of lockdown till May 29. While India has anunced considerable relaxations in Lockdown 3.0, it has also divided states and districts into Red, Green and Orange zones classified based on total active cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance. Currently, as per Centre, re are 130 districts red zone districts, 284 orange zone districts, 319 green zone districts. India has till May 6 reported 46711 cases with 1583 deaths, 13160 cured/discharged/migrated.