Amid the disruption in recovery momentum by the second wave of COVID-19, the RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has demanded that the Centre needs to step in to tackle the present economic crisis by extending financial support to the vulnerable sections in addition to free food grains. This is days after Congress party’s repeated demand for a second fiscal stimulus and assistance to weaker and poor sections. SJM has demanded a substantial increase in allocation of funds for MNREGA to support rural employment, extend an emergency credit line guarantee scheme for a few more months, specific stimulus for construction, fishing, horticulture in terms of soft loans and need-based moratoriums by RBI to suit every sector and liberal monetary support from the banks.
Further, SJM has urged the Centre to announce a package for employment linked incentives (ELI) to strengthen the MSME sector. On the other hand, SJM expects the corporate and business houses should fully support to manage the difficult situation by liberal contribution for Covid relief, payment of salaries to employees without retrenchment and timely payment of dues to MSMEs
The private health care providers should realise that this is not the time for making profits and ensure treatment at minimum cost.
“Swadeshi Jagran Manch appreciates the Central Government’s fiscal and stimulus policy response both the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package as well as freely available liquidity of Rs 15,000 crore loan to the service sector announced on June 4, 2021 to tackle the present health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. However, SJM firmly believes that the mayhem caused by the Pandemic can be overcome only by the concerted efforts of every section of the society,” said National Co-Convenor Dr Ashwani Mahajan.
Mahajan said that “100 million jobs were lost during the nationwide April-May 2020 lockdown, and during the month of May 2021, 15.3 million jobs were lost which hits 18% jobless rate in urban areas of Bharat.
Unemployment has been more pronounced among young workers (15-24 years age group) who failed to regain employment. It is a foregone conclusion that increasing health expenses and reduced employment opportunities have further worsened the economic situation of poorer households, increased poverty level and contributed to wealth disparities.”
