Has Delhi entered stage 3 of COVID-19, wonders Cong leader Ajay Maken, gives 10 suggestions to Kejriwal govt

Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken has issued a press statement pointing out some facts relating to the COVID-19 situation in the state as well as making 10 suggestions to the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

He wondered if Delhi has entered stage 3 of COVID-19 considering that 1,640 people in total have tested positive with 135 are under investigations.

Further, 55 health care professionals have been infected in Delhi, the highest in the country.

Maken also pointed out that Delhi has a huge scarcity of PPE. “It was only in a meeting on 4th of April that the CM directed to provide ‘a realistic estimates for requirement of consumables like N-95 Masks Surgical masks, PPE kits etc. in all public scenarios’,” he said.

Further, no efforts were being made by the Delhi or the Union government to procure new ventilators, while faulty ventilators existed at many places still exist.

Maken added that aggressive testing needed to be done both at the state and national levels.

10 Suggestions to Kejriwal Government

1. Pizza delivery boy has been contracted with virus and 89 have been quarantined. Why is there not a regulation for all individuals who are exempted from lockdown? So, we suggest:-

a. SOP for delivery boys should be prepared and should be notified as regulations so that they are binding on everyone.

b. Protection gears, including sanitizers, mask, and hand gloves, should be provided by the employers.

c. The pizza delivery boy was refused to be tested earlier despite being symptomatic. SOP should also include early testing of this vulnerable section.

2. Delhi has one of the highest percentages of migrant populations in India. They are not only labourers or construction workers, but also include self-employed as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, rag pickers etc. Rs 7500 should be provided to each of such vulnerable section per month. The government should immediately, based on records available, transfer money to this section.

3. Rajasthan and Punjab Governments have deferred fixed charges in the electricity bills of all non-domestic (commercial) and industrial connections for March and April.Delhi Government should ensure that no fixed charges on electricity bills are charged for the period of three months from the industrial and non-domestic (commercial) connections. Worth mentioning here is the fact that Punjab, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh spend about three times more on electricity subsidy in their respective States.

4. Chhattisgarh Government, in one go provided two months ration, free of cost to 86%% of the households. It includes 70kg rice, 2kg sugar and 3kg pulses. Similarly, in Delhi, all households of E,F,G,H category areas of Delhi, including all slums, resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies, unauthorised-regularised colonies should be provided immediately two months of ration. This will cover around 60% of households in Delhi.

5. Delhi Government schools cater to only 34 % of total students in Delhi. It is one of the lowest in the country. For rest of the students, the parents are worried about the fees and the teachers about their salaries. The Delhi Government should pass an order for not charging any fees and should ensure 75% of the salaries for the teachers are provided by the Government to the schools.

6. All MSMEs should be given 75% of their employees’ salaries for three months.

7. Private or Government Safai Karamcharis and health care workers should be provided Rs 7500 per month as risk allowance for 3 months.

8. Rajasthan Government has also deferred payments on water bills. The Delhi Government should not only defer the water bills but should also ensure adequate supply of water in May and June. Tanker dependent areas should be concentrated first so that social distancing is not compromised with.

9. Punjab and Rajasthan Government has released advance two months pension for the senior citizens, widows and physically challenged. The GNCTD should also immediately release two months pension for all such vulnerable sections.

10. All unemployed youth upto the age of 35 yrs, who has already registered or registers upto 30th April should be provided unemployment allowance of Rupees 5000.