DIDI ROPES IN ABHIJEET TO TACKLE COVID FISCAL FALLOUT

The West Bengal government has roped in Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee to head a universal panel of experts to tackle the economic crisis in the state over the ongoing total lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Announcing his name and role on Monday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed that she would convey her decision to him personally.

She has also agreed to entrust a Trinamul Congress MP to attend the April 8 all-party meeting by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after getting his call.

On her government’s future plan, Ms Banerjee said, “We are setting up a global advisory board for Covid-19 Response Policy in West Bengal. I want the world famous people known for their talent and wisdom to be its members. It will be a policy decision body which will help the CM. We have selected fourfive members for it. Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, one of them, will head it. He is our pride. Next is Dr Swarup Sarkar who worked as the WHO Regional Director and worked with ICMR earlier. We will get more such experts on board.”

“We are not like the Central government that crores of money would be donated. Covid-19 is new to us. It has caused a nationwide lockdown. Earlier it was notebandi (Demonetization), now is Gharbandi (lockdown) which has suspended all businesses and revenue earnings. People are in peril. We don’t know when this disease would end. It’s totally uncertain. So a future plan needs to be made during a pandemic about how to revive the economy, health and other sectors,” she added.

Referring to the allparty meeting, she said, “When the PM wanted to talk in a video conference, I attended it. On April 8 he wants to talk to the MPs since it was not discussed in the parliament. Someone requested me. I agreed and said one would attend it as many are busy in their constituencies.”