Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Chief Minsters of various States of India via video-conferencing on Monday. He asked about the steps taken to contain COVID-19 and also the plans from Chief Ministers to boost the economy.
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edapaddi K.Palaniswami during his interaction with PM, conveyed that because of the outstanding medical treatment, the loss of life is at 0.67% in the State. He also shared with others that 27% of the COVID-19 patients in Tamil Nadu have recovered.
As his request to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said that till May 31 the Government should not grant permission to commence Railway and Airway Service between Delhi and Chennai.
It was reported that the CM had requested the Prime Minister a special grant of Rs. 2000 Crore for purchasing Medical Equipment. Additional borrowing of 33% above the permitted level for fiscal year 2019-20, may be allowed for 2020-21. The pending GST compensation amount may be released now.
50 per cent of the 2020-21 Finance Commission grants to the Urban and Rural Local bodies may be released now. Moreover no cuts should be made in devolution to States from the Central Budget estimates 2020-21.
CM also requested a necessary grant of 1,000 crore rupees from NDRF immediately to procure medical, protective materials and for the movement of migrant labourers, the cost which has been borne entirely by the State Government.
The Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund may be made eligible to receive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution under Schedule-III of the Companies Act, 2013.
He requested the PM to provide an additional allocation of food grains free of cost for all card holders, including the NPHH beneficiaries, under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) Scheme. CMR (Custom Milled Rice) subsidy of Rupees 1,321 crore may be released early, to facilitate paddy procurement.
He requested to announce a relief package to ease the immediate burden on the power sector, which will help distressed Discoms.
Tamil Nadu has a large number of MSME units with maximum labourers. CM requested that the annual credit plan target for lending to MSME’s in Tamil Nadu should be enhanced to Rs.1,25,000 crore for 2020-21. A credit re-structuring package may also be provided so that they do not have repayment obligations till 31′ December, 2020. Fresh working capital assistance should be extended to the MSME units. A refinancing support of Rs.2,500 crore should be provided to the Tamil.