Video Conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi- CAPT AMARINDER SEEKS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN MICRO-PLANNING FOR STATES

News Punjab

Chandigarh, May 11: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday pitched for extension of the lockdown, but with a carefully crafted strategy, backed by fiscal and economic empowerment of the states, to save lives and secure livehood.

 Clearly favouring continuation of a strict lockdown, in view of the escalating cases of Covid nationwide, the Chief Minister said at the Video Conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that states needed to be given greater flexibility in micro-planning as part of a carefully planned exit strategy, encompassing both Covid containment and a defined path of economic revival.

 The Exit Strategy should consider and focus on fiscal and economic empowerment of the States, which are responsible for the real action directly impinging upon the livelihood and social health of the common man, said the Chief Minister, suggesting that States should be allowed great flexibility in micro-planning, with MSMEs to be allowed to function in Red Zone districts with proper safeguards. The decision on designating the red, orange/yellow and green zones should be left to the states, which were more cognizant of the ground realities, he said.

 Captain Amarinder demanded urgent financial assistance to States to meet at least 33% of their committed liabilities, along with revenue grants to the states for 3 months to meet shortfall in revenue and to fund expenditure on Covid-19.

 The Punjab Chief Minister also called for a National Strategy on Covid Testing for making the battle against Covid more effective, pointing out that he had also written to the Prime Minister to direct Central Government institutions in Chandigarh and Punjab to increase testing capacity. Punjab had so far done 40,962 tests done so far, with current testing rate at 2500 per day, which the state government planned to scale up to 6000 by end of the month.