World Bank announces $1 billion social protection package for India to fight COVID-19

In a big move, World Bank on Friday anunced a $1 billion social protection pack for India to aid country's efforts to fight dreaded Coronavirus pandemic. This $1 billion social protection pack would be linked to Government's programs and schemes launched to aid vulnerable section of population, hard-hit amid pandemic. 

While speaking on Government's schemes to aid vulnerable, Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director for India said, "Social distancing has led to a slowdown of ecomy. Government of India has focused on Garib Kalyan Yojna to help protect poor and vulnerable as a bridge between health interventions are happening and where ecomy can be revived."

More details on pack are still to follow. 

Read: Lockdown In India Has Impacted 40 Million Internal Migrants: World Bank

Meanwhile, a few days ago World Bank anunced that y were ready to launch a new multi-dor trust fund, in wake of a public health crisis, to help developing countries get better prepared for disease outbreaks. new Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Multi-Dor Fund (HEPRF) will be in addition to earlier anunced support of up to $160 billion of financing it will provide for 15 months to support COVID-19 measures.

In India, death toll due to vel Coronavirus rose to 2,649 and number of cases climbed to 81,970 on Friday, with 100 more deaths and 3,967 fresh cases being reported in past 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry. number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 51,401 as 27,919 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, ministry said.

Read: India's COVID-19 Cases Cross 80,000 Mark; Death Toll At 2,649; 27,920 Recoveries So Far