Landlords told not to collect rent from daily wagers
LUCKNOW: No landlord would be allowed to charge a month’s rent from daily wagers or other poor people across UP in view of the Covid-19 lockdown, according to a circular issued by chief secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari.
Additional chief secretary, home, also announced this decision of the state government at a press conference here.
On receiving any complaint, the police will take strict action against the landlord who took the rent, Awasthi said.
As most people are working from home these days due the lockdown, the chief secretary directed officials to also see to it that such people’s full salary/ wages were paid to them in the first week next month.
“All such migrants must be kept away from the common public and must not be allowed to their home before completing the specified and mandatory quarantine period,” he said.
For his part, Awasthi said chief minister had ordered that the relief package announced by the central government should be carried forward in the first week of April under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary, finance. Awasthi said the chief minister had directed officers to ensure district level screening of people who had come from outside the state and keep them in quarantine. TheCMorderedthat extra food packets be prepared in the police lines for distribution among the needy, Awasthi said.
The chief minister held a meeting with nodal officers appointed for different states on Sunday. The committee headed by the agriculture production commission had so far allocated 4,935 metric tonnes of wheat through Food Corporation of India.
A total of 19,941 mobile vans and 21,376 handcarts were arranged for delivery of fruits and vegetables at the door step.
He said 21.28 lakh litres of milk was purchased through government dairies.
Along with this, 17.13 lakh litres of milk was distributed. Besides, 850 community kitchens were opened to provide free food, he added. The maximum price of essential commodities was being determined.
MEASURES TO CHECK EXODUS
The state government on Sunday took urgent measures to check current wave of exodus of migrant workers from their work places to their home towns in districts across the state.
Infrastructure and industrial development commissioner Alok Tandon said 2,163 industrial units were making arrangements for workers on their premises.
■ Around 3,541 units paid wages to their workers during the lockdown period, he added.
■ Workers of 2,163 units were staying near the factory and so there was no need to stop them at the workplace, Tandon pointed out. Passes have been issued to workers of such factories which have decided to remain open. Out of 1,873 units which should have been operational, 1,425 of them are running currently.
■ ₹1,000 each has been transferred to 8.01 lakh workers working as labourers (construction workers). Around 72 complaints were received at the state level control room (telephone no. 0522-2202893), out of which 14 cases were related to labour department, 17 to MSMEs and remaining 41 cases were related to local logistics, pass and health.
■ On the CM’s helpline 1076, 93 complaints related to salary payment were received, which were forwarded to officers of the labour department of the districts concerned for redress. 15 were partially resolved.