Short of revenue, Kejri govt asks Centre for ₹5k crore to pay staff
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government has sought immediate assistance of Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre to pay salaries to its employees because revenues dried up during the lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Sunday.
Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said he had written to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for help and added that the Delhi government had not received money sanctioned to states under the Disaster Relief Fund.
According to Sisodia, Delhi’s tax revenue has declined by 78% since the national lockdown came into force on March 25.
“At this juncture, paying salaries to government employees is our biggest concern. They include doctors, healthcare workers, teachers, etc, who have been leading the fight against the virus. We immediately need ₹5,000 crore to pay their salary,” Sisodia said in a video briefing.
He added “Recently, the Union finance ministry announced a relief package (of ₹20 lakh crore) but there is nothing in it for Delhi... Other states have received financial assistance from the Disaster Relief Fund, but the Delhi government has not received any such aid yet... So, I have written to the Union finance minister to grant a one-time relief package of ₹5,000 crore for Delhi.”
The letter, Sisodia’s office said, was sent to the Union minister’s office on May 26. “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a valid need for immediate help from the Centre. The one-time grant of ₹5,000 crore will, thereby, help Delhi tide over the immediate crisis. This will also facilitate the Delhi government in releasing the grants to the (three) MCs which depend on the city government to pay salary,” said Sisodia.