Covid-19: Family cardholders in Tamil Nadu to get Rs 1,000 each

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 11.26 AM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edapapdi K Palaniswami on Tuesday announced a Rs 3,280crore relief package to help people in the wake of the rising Covid-19 cases. All family card holders will get a cash support of Rs 1,000 each.

The family cardholders can also avail rice, dal, edible oil and sugar for April free of cost. The government will give tokens to avoid rush at PDS outlets. Those who don’t wish to get the cash support could register online.

Those who fail to get the commodities in March could get them in April too, along with the entitlement for that month.

Unregistered pavement vendors will get an additional cash support of Rs 1,000, besides the Rs 1,000 announced for PDS cardholders. MGNREGS workers will get a special pay for two days.

Making a suo motu statement in the assembly, the chief minister said lockdown would come into effect in the state at 6pm on Tuesday. “Due to the announcement, the livelihood of public, including daily wage labourers, taxi drivers, construction and unorganised sector workforce, pavement vendors and elders will be affected hugely,” he said.

“The families of construction workers and auto drivers enrolled in the driver welfare board will get a special cash support of Rs 1,000, 15kg of rice, one kg of dal, one kg of edible oil,” chief minister said.

The district collectors and labour welfare boards will identify migrant construction labourers and offer 15kg of rice, one kg of dal and one kg of edible oil free of cost.

Amma Unavagams, the budget canteens in the state, will continue to offer food.

The chief minister said district collectors and the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner have been directed to set up community kitchens to prepare food for the needy. “District collectors have been told to offer food at the doorstep of the senior citizens, who avail the services of anganwadi centres,” Palaniswami said.