Food, migrants on govt panel agenda
NEWDELHI: Hassle-free movement of food, dairy products, and other essential goods and a close watch on the movement of migrant workers— these are the main areas where the senior bureaucracy sees need for urgent intervention, as 1.3 billion Indians continue to stay under a federal lockdown.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed 10 empowered group of secretaries to monitor different aspects of the situation arising out of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The groups, empowered to take decisions, meet every day to take stock of the unfolding ground situation.
During their internal discussions on Wednesday, many bureaucrats found several complaints about non-compliance of the government’s order on movement of food and dairy products. According to a senior official who is a member of one of the committees, continued “production and seamless supply of food items right to the neighbourhood level holds the key to the success of the lockdown.”
According to an official, the issue related to the supply of food is significant and PM Modi is expected to take it up in his video conference with state chief ministers scheduled for Thursday.
On Wednesday, the supply of essential commodities also came up during the video conference between cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba and the chief secretaries of the states. A press release issued subsequently said: “The manufacturing of essential goods should be ensured. It should also be ensured that the supply chains of such goods are maintained.”
The government also wants to keep a tab on the movement of migrants and will ask panchayats to inform local police about the return of any workers or if anyone shows symptoms of Covid-19. The rural development ministry has sent a letter to the states, asking them to involve gram panchayats in the identification of a migrants and any anyone showing symptoms.
There is also a proposal before to further increase the duties on petrol and diesel. “The final call on this issue will be taken by the finance ministry,”said a secretary-level officer.
Former rural development secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra said, “I hope these groups are getting feedback from the ground and not relying only on what officials are feeding them from the states. . The government also needs to come up with a plan regarding the crop harvesting season that starts mid-April.”