Why PM CARES, asks Cong.

Party leaders point to the existing National Relief Fund to deal with pandemic

31/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Congress leaders on Monday questioned the setting up of the PM CARES Fund to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) is already in existence.

Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor on Twitter, commenting on another tweet about PM CARES, asked: “Why not simply rename PMNRF as PM-CARES, given the PM’s penchant for catchy acronyms, instead of creating a separate Public Charitable Trust whose rules & expenditure are totally opaque?”

“@PMOIndia you owe the country an explanation for this highly unusual step,” Mr. Tharoor added.

On March 28, the government had set up the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund) to deal with the unprecedented situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak where citizens can make voluntary contributions.

However, some critics including Congress leaders pointed out that money was lying ‘unspent’ in the PMNRF.

“The PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) has an unspent balance of ₹3,800 crore [as of December 16, 2019]. Why couldn’t #COVID19 donations go to PMNRF? Why was PM CARE created? Why are PM & 3 ministers members of this trust without any opposition or civil society leaders?” asked Congress spokesperson Salman Soz.

Noted historian Ramchandra Guha too targeted the government over PM CARES Fund.

“This is a very important thread. Why a new fund when a Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund already exists? And why the self-aggrandizing name, PM-CARES? Must a colossal national tragedy also be (mis)used to enhance the cult of personality?” he asked.

PSU banks ask branches to work full hours

Full staffing advised to help banks cope with pay day rush, DBT withdrawals in rural areas

31/03/2020, MANOJIT SAHA,MUMBAI

Bracing themselves: Bankers are anticipating a rush in their branches in rural and semi-urban areas.PTIPTI

After being prodded by the Finance Ministry, state-owned banks have directed their branches to ensure that the staff are present in full strength from Tuesday and that the branches remain open for regular business hours in anticipation of the higher footfall this week, especially in rural and semi-urban branches where digital banking facilities are not being availed extensively.

Bankers are anticipating a rush in their branches in rural and semi-urban areas as more customers are expected to queue up to withdraw cash after the government transfers ₹500 to Jan Dhan account holders as part of the COVID-19 economic relief package announced by the Centre. In addition, there would be the usual increase in banking activity that typically happens at the beginning of a month due to salary disbursements and pension payments.

Bankers said this week could prove to be challenging for the branch staff, especially to ensure compliance with physical distancing norms.

Some of the lenders have already withdrawn earlier instructions for rotation of duty on alternate days, effective from March 31. All staff members have been asked to report for duty.

Following the nationwide lockdown to fight the spread of COVID-19, public sector banks were operating on the basis of truncated working hours with limited staffing and had been providing basic banking services.

However, this had irked the Ministry which had reportedly sought an explanation from the banks on why many branches were closed.

In a videoconference with bank chiefs on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had reviewed banks’ functioning during the lockdown, even while maintaining social distancing.

“All banks are ensuring their branches are kept open, ATMs filled up and are working. Banking correspondents are active. Social distancing is respected and sanitizers are provided where necessary,” Ms. Sitharaman tweeted on Monday.

“There is a big risk for the bank staff and customers inside the premises in large numbers and would go totally against the objective of social distancing,” C. H. Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees’ Association, wrote to the Ministry.

Contractors may be behind migrant workers’ stir: police

Eight middlemen under the scanner for Kottayam protest

31/03/2020, G. ANAND,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Patient hearing: Police personnel trying to reassure the migrant workers protesting in Kottayam on Sunday.PTI-

Sunday’s protest by migrant workers at Payippad in Kottayam is unlikely to be the consequence of a conspiracy by any political party or religious group, according to the Kerala police. A preliminary probe suggests that some labour contractors could have instigated the workers to protest and seek transport facilities to return to their home States.

The police say the protest occurred a few days after the taluk authorities summoned the contractors and advised them to help the migrants employed by them.

“They may have felt it is a losing proposition to spend on the wages, stay and food of the labourers during the lockdown,” a senior police officer told The Hindu. They could have tried to shrug off their accountability by instigating them to return home.

The police said eight middlemen were under scanner. Investigators said the mass movement of migrants from New Delhi in government-arranged buses may have also stoked the stir at Payippad.

Youth Cong. men held

In Malappuram, the police arrested two Youth Congress workers for allegedly spreading false information that transport facility had been arranged for migrant workers to go home.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had alleged that “one or more devious forces” were behind the Payippad episode.

(With inputs from Malappuram)

Power demand down; revenue may take a hit

31/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The demand for electricity in the State, particularly in Chennai, has drastically reduced since the lockdown came into effect.

With most industrial and commercial establishments shut, the power managers are sitting pretty, with demand not exceeding 12,000 MW.

Electricity Minister P. Thangamani had said demand had reduced by over 4,500 MW. But officials are concerned about revenue collection. The shutting down of establishments representing high-tension and commercial consumers, who account for a majority of Tangedco’s revenue, would result in a huge gap in revenue generation, said a senior official of Tangedco. The silver lining is the availability of cheap electricity through the power exchanges, with the price not exceeding ₹2.10 per unit.

Sharpest single-day jump in cases

31/03/2020

Mr. Palaniswami said 1,925 persons have been admitted as in-patients as they were suspected to have COVID-19. To a query on the number of persons tested for COVID-19, the CM maintained that testing would be done only if a person developed all symptoms.

The State government had taken steps to procure about 1.5 crore masks and 25 lakh N95 masks along with other medical supplies. Orders have been placed to acquire 2,500 ventilators and 30,000 test kits.

He added that steps were being taken to coordinate with States where workers from Tamil Nadu were stranded.

Self-quarantine was the only way to stop the spread of COVID-19, the CM reiterated and contended: “We have never come across such a situation, these are challenging times.”

Replying to a query on rent to be paid by tenants, he said it was a pan India issue and the government would look into it. On the possibility of waiving electricity bills, he said: “One should think of the government’s position. The government spends the money that is collected from the people as taxes. Otherwise, there is no money for the government.”

The CM ruled out the possibility of holding an all-party meeting sought by the opposition on COVID-19.

Govt. steps in to send flowers to scent factories

Passes issued to units in Dindigul, Kovilpatti, Tiruvannamalai and Coimbatore

31/03/2020,B. KOLAPPANCHENNAI

Back on track: Farm workers preparing a field to plant paddy after the government allowed farming operations, with precautions, during the lockdown period.

As farmers cultivating flowers are unable to sell their produce due to the lockdown, the State government has arranged for the supply of flowers to scent and perfume manufacturing factories in various parts of Tamil Nadu through the Horticulture Department.

“We have issued passes to scent factories in Dindigul, Kovilpatti, Tiruvannamalai and Coimbatore so that they could collect flowers from the farmers and transport them to their manufacturing units. They may not collect the entire produce, but will give some relief to farmers,” said Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary.

Farmers have complained that flowers either remain uncollected or perish in the fields because of the cancellation of marriages and temple festivals.

After Horticulture Department officials held talks, in Tiruvannamalai alone, 3.1 tonnes of jasmine were supplied to SMR Sri Arunachala Concrete Extraction Unit between March 28 and 30. Similarly, 650 kg jasmine was sent to a unit in Virudhunagar.

“In Dindigul, officials of the Horticulture Department held a meeting with perfume manufacturing units, and they will use 22 tonnes of flowers from Tuesday,” Mr. Bedi said.

The flower market in Koyambedu started functioning on Monday and the government has arranged for the inflow of flowers.

The Horticulture Department is also facilitating the movement of fruits, particularly bananas, to markets in Kerala, Pudukottai, Tindivanam, Coimbatore, Tirupattur and Tiruppur. Accordingly, 15 tonnes of banana have been sent to markets.

“Farmers can keep their produce in the cold storage facilities and godowns of the Agriculture Department for a month without the need for any payment,” Mr. Bedi said. He said farmers who had not paid the premium for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in the delta districts and a few other district could remit the amount on March 31.

Helplines set up

“Farmers can pay the premium at the primary co-operative banks and other nationalised banks in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Tiruchi, Salem, Theni and Kanyakumari district,” he said.

The following are the helplines that have been set up to facilitate payment of insurance premium: Nagapattinam: 9750197636; Tiruvarur: 7397753311; Tiruchi: 9443021750; Salem: 9944980436; Theni: 9443828843; and Kanniyakumari: 9965568051.

TNAU to donate ₹65 lakh

31/03/2020,COIMBATORE

In support of the State government’s fight against the COVID-19 virus, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will donate ₹ 65 lakh to Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund, said a University release.

The contribution was from the teaching and non-teaching staff, said the release, adding that Vice- Chancellor N. Kumar would be sending it to the Chief Minister