Chidambaram’s 10-point plan to cope up with lockdown

A day after Modi government announced 21-day lockdown to curb community transmission of Covid-19, former finance minister P Chidambaram has proposed to double the payouts under the PM-KISAN scheme to Rs 12,000 from Rs 6,000, and immediate transfer of this amount to the beneficiaries.

Presenting a 10-point plan Chidambaram suggested that the government should announce immediate relief to the poor and the vulnerable.

He took to twitter to suggest a 10-point plan.

1. Farmers: Double the amount paid/payable under

PM-KISAN (to Rs 12,000) and transfer the additional amount immediately to the bank account of each beneficiary.

2. Tenant Farmers: Bring tenant farmers under PM-KISAN. Take the lists from the state governments and transfer Rs 6000 + Rs 6000 (in two installments) to the bank account of each tenant farmer.

3. Take the lists of registered MGNREGA workers and transfer a sum of Rs 3000 into the bank account of each beneficiary.

4.  For the urban poor, take the Jan Dhan accounts with the urban branches of the banks and transfer a sum of Rs 6000 into the bank account of each beneficiary. (While identifying the Jan Dhan accounts, don’t forget to include the ‘no frills or zero balance accounts’ opened before the Jan Dhan scheme was launched.)

5. Offer to every ration card holder, through the ration shops, 10 kg of rice or wheat absolutely free, as a one-time measure in the next 21 days. Arrange for home delivery.

6. Ask all registered employers  (registered under any law) to maintain current levels of employment and wages. Guarantee to such employers who do so that the wages of the employees will be reimbursed by the government within 30 days of payment.

7.  Open a register in every ward or block and invite persons who have not received payment under any of the categories listed above to register their name, address and Aadhaar. Street people and destitutes will fall under this category.

After minimal verification, open a bank account in each name (if there is not already one), seed it with Aadhaar and transfer Rs 3000 into each bank account.

8. Extend the deadlines for payment of any kind of tax until 30 June 2020. In the interim, banks can be instructed to lend to panchayats, municipalities and corporations against the security of the tax receivables.

9. Instruct banks to extend the date for any kind of EMI payment until 30 June 2020.

10. Cut GST rates by 5 per cent on all wage goods, essential goods and services, and all goods of mass consumption for the period 1 April to 30 June 2020.

Saying that 10-point plan presented by him will address the immediate challenge and the need for more cash transfers could be assessed depending on the evolving situation, the senior Congress leader urged people to support PM Modi and the state governments in this time of crisis.