Lockdown | Assam Govt Pays Rs. 2,000 Each To Stranded People

The Assam government on Monday deposited Rs 2,000 each under a "special scheme" to the accounts of 86,000 people from the State, who are stranded across India due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Assam FinanceMinister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision to provide financial support tothose stuck at various places was taken by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowalduring a review meeting on Sunday.

"This is the first installment of financial support to the needy people from Assam who are stranded outside. The second installment will be released before the lockdown is lifted," Mr. Sarma said.

He, however, said the amount for the second tranche has notbeen decided yet.

"In the first phase, we identified 99,758 people eligible toget this assistance. The rest will get the money within the next few days,"said Mr. Sarma, who is also the State's Health and Family Welfare Minister.

He said the "special scheme" was launched through anIT-enabled system, and 4,29,851 people had contacted the State governmentofficials via the Central server in Guwahati.

"After final verification of the names and bank details, 99,758 persons were found to be eligible," he added. Mr. Sarma said this initiative has also helped create a database of the workers and laborers from Assam employed in other States, with Karnataka recording the largest number at 68,000.

"Now, when they arrive in Assam after the lockdown islifted, we will be able to track them easily. Accordingly, the DCs and SPs willmake arrangements for quarantine," the Minister said.

Mr. Sarma said the State government has already deposited ₹25,000 each to families of 647 people from Assam, who are sufferingfrom various ailments and undergoing treatment outside the State aftergetting stranded due to the curbs.

"We aim to provide this assistance to 725 patients currentlyoutside the State," he said.

The Assam government has already provided the first installmentof USD 1,000 each to 230 people from the State stuck abroad, out of thedeclared amount of USD 2,000, Mr. Sarma said.