CM announces Rs.500 crore second package

• Rs. 3,000 each to weavers
• Rs. 3,000 each to registered TV and Film workers
• Rs. 3,000 each to registered fishermen
• Rs. 3,000 each for ASHA workers 
• Rs. 5,000 each for unaided school teachers 
• Rs. 5 crore for Teachers Welfare Fund

Bengaluru: Ending days of suspense over continuation of COVID-induced lockdown, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday declared extension of the lockdown till June 14 with no relaxations. 

The CM also announced a second relief package worth Rs. 500 crore to soothe the impact of the lockdown underway. The second package comes 15 days after the  Government  had  announced a package of Rs. 1,250 crore on May 19.

Following a sudden surge in COVID cases, Karnataka went into a ‘close down’ from  Apr. 27 which was followed by a complete lockdown from May 10 till May 24, which was extended further by two weeks till June 7.

Addressing a press meet here yesterday, Yediyurappa maintained  that the number of cases had started declining owing to  the lockdown. But the lockdown, which was to end on June 7, has been extended for another week (till June 14) because of rising cases in rural areas. 

He pointed out that the Government will announce further relief if positivity rate, which is currently at 12.20 percent in the State, comes down to 5 percent. 

Stating that all existing lockdown restrictions would be enforced till June14, the CM said that the extension of the lockdown is based on the State’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee, which said that the lockdown may be lifted if the positivity rate comes below 5 percent and the daily number of cases below 5,000. Though fresh infections are coming down significantly, the transmission chain has not been broken in many places, he added.

Giving details of the Rs. 500 crore relief package, Yediyurappa said that the package would largely cover unorganised sectors.

Rs. 3,000 each would be given to powerloom weavers, with a maximum of two workers per loom (Rs.35 crore). This will benefit 59,000 powerlooms. 

Similarly, unorganized workers of the Film and Television industry would get Rs. 3,000 each. This will benefit 22,000 registered workers (Rs. 6.6 crore).

A total of 18,746 registered fishermen and 7,668 inland boat owners would get compensation of Rs. 3,000 each (Rs.7.9 crore).Priests and staff members of ‘C’ grade Muzrai temples and Imams in Mosques would get Rs.3,000 each (Rs. 10.83 crore). A total of 42,574 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers would get Rs. 3,000 each,while a total of 64,423 Anganwadi workers and helpers would get Rs. 2,000 each (Rs.37.45 crore).

Following demand from unaided school teachers, it has been decided to give Rs. 5,000 to each teacher, which costs the Government Rs. 100 crore. Coming to the aid of the legal fraternity, the CM announced that Rs. 5 crore will be given for the Advocates Welfare Fund. In a sop to the  industrial sector, the Government  waived fixed electricity charge for MSMEs (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) for May and June (Rs. 120.26 crore) and also extended power bill payment for other industrial users till July 30. The waiver will benefit about 3 lakh MSME industries. 

Yediyurappa further said that owing to excess stock of milk due to increased procurement from farmers, the production of milk powder has increased. The Government has decided to give 500gms of milk powder to each school going child, along with food grains in June and July, the CM added.