Delhi CM Kejriwal announces ₹5K for construction workers

NEWDELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a compensation of ₹5,000 for all construction workers in the national Capital and set up a fivemember committee of doctors to ensure Delhi’s preparedness in the event the community transmission of the coronavirus disease begins on a large scale.

“These are tough times. In the current situation, when the entire country is under lockdown, we have decided to give ₹5,000 to every construction worker in Delhi so that they can pass this phase without having to look for food anywhere else. They are losing their daily wages because of all the restrictions in place,” Kejriwal said in a digital press conference.

The compensation will be given to those registered with the Delhi Building And Other Construction Workers (BOCW) board.

“At present, there are around four lakh workers registered with the Delhi BOCW board. The amounts will be transferred directly to those whose accounts are linked with us. Most of the workers keep moving from city to city on the lookout for jobs. So, the amounts will disbursed only after due verification,” said a senior government official.

The government, however, did not announce any specific monetary compensation package for other daily wage earners in Delhi.

The chief minister also said he has constituted a five-member committee which will recommend the steps that need to be taken by the Delhi government in case the city enters stage 3 (community transmission) of the coronavirus pandemic.

The panel of doctors will be headed by Dr SK Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), an autonomous hospital under the Delhi government that specialises in the treatment of liver-related ailments.

“There have been no new Covid-19 cases in the last 40 hours in Delhi. As of now, Delhi is still at stage 2 of the virus spread. But we have to be prepared for stage 3 and there should be adequate arrangements. The committee will tell us what steps need to be taken in this regard,” he said.

He urged people to contribute to the chief minister’s relief fund to ensure adequate arrangements.

The Delhi government said it will put more night shelters in place in the city so that free meals are accessible to all the homeless and those in need.

Earlier, the Delhi government had announced that every ration card holder will get 50% extra ration from the end of this month.

It also doubled the pension for widows, differently-abled and the elderly for this month which Kejriwal said will benefit 8.5 lakh beneficiaries.

This means such beneficiaries will get ₹4,000- 5,000 pension by April 7.