CWC video meet on April 2 on Covid-19

New Delhi: Top Congress leaders will discuss the implication and consequent problems of the 21-day lockdown imposed to check the spread of the novel coronavirus infection at the party's working committee meeting on April 2.

Migrants lodged at the Indira Gandhi Pratisthan on their arrival from various states amid the Covid-19 lockdown in Lucknow on Monday.

The Congress on Monday demanded that the Central government should come out with a legislation to ensure that there is no retrenchment in any sector for the next six months. The party also asked the government to bear 70 per cent of salary and wage bills of the nearly 4.25 crore medium and small-scale enterprises for the three months beginning March.

The Central Government should come out with a law — no retrenchment in any sector or company whatsoever for next six months that is March to August, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said.

“There shall be no retrenchment in any sector or company whatsoever for the next six months, this should be a government law and be applicable to every company and enterprise,” he said.

“We assume India INC contributes around 40 per cent to GDP. Which is approximately `84 lakh crore. Ten per cent of the same is employee benefits that is around `8.4 lakh crore. Out of which, 15 per cent is at the lower end of the corporate salary structure,” he said.

Addressing the media here, Mr Vallabh said contribution of MSME sector to GDP is 29 per cent, which is approximately

Amid a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) would be held on Thursday possibly for the first time through videoconferencing.

On Monday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi also set up a “central control room” at the AICC headquarters in Delhi. It will be led by Rajiv Satav to monitor the situation on Covid-19 outbreak.

The CWC — which is the party’s highest decision making body — would discuss the crisis across the country due to the Covid19 outbreak and how the party can help people on the ground.

“A meeting of Congress Working Committee will be held on Thursday, April 2. The meeting will be conducted through videoconferencing,”

`61 lakh crore.

He also asked the government to support truck drivers as these people are the backbone of the economy.

“The Government has to support these people by providing immediate driver advance to transporters K.C. Venugopal, Congress general secretary (organisation) said.

The CWC is chaired by the party chief and has more than 50 members, including state incharges, general secretaries and permanent invitees.

Since the coronavirus outbreak in India, the party has taken several steps to work among the people, directing state units to be present on the ground. Both Mrs Gandhi and former President Rahul Gandhi have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting further ways to help those in need during the pandemic.

Central control room at AICC will, apart from Mr Satav, comprise former MLA Devendra Yadav and AICC secretary Manish Chatrath. It would function under the overall guidance and supervision of Mr Venugopal.

by Direct Benefit Transfer to the extent of 3 months of their wages. There are approximately 30 lakh truck drivers in our Country. Total burden will be around `25,000 crore. This will also ensure a smooth supply chain,” he added.