Congress President Sonia Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to roll out emergency welfare measures for construction workers and ...
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to roll out emergency welfare measures for construction workers and those in the unorganised sector because of the ongoing lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
In her letter dated March 23, Gandhi pointed out that the construction industry employed more than 44 million people. “Over the last week, lakhs of migrant workers in major cities across India have left for their hometowns and villages, fearing a prolonged economic downturn,” she added. “They are now faced with a precarious future. Many are stranded in cities and are deprived of their livelihoods due to the stringent lock down measures.”
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown for the entire country, stating that it was the only way to break the chain of infection. The lockdown will be in effect till April 14. There are over 530 cases of coronavirus in the country. Of these, 11 people have died.
Gandhi said the measures taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus have led to “widespread economic disruptions that had a debilitating impact on the informal sector”. She highlighted that several countries, most notably Canada, have announced wage subsidy as part of its Covid-19 economic response plan. “I request...
