MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, on Sunday, observed that the government faces twin challenges of curbing the coronavirus pandemic and reviving the state economy. He asked people to observe strict discipline to avoid further spread of coronavirus.
Pawar's statement is crucial, as the number of coronavirus positive patients on Sunday rose to 748, of which 113 are new patients while there were 13 deaths. The daily surge in cases has been a matter of concern for the state, as it has to step up efforts to avoid community level transmission.
Almost all the 1,400 participants of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat meet at Delhi have been put under quarantine on returning to the state. However, Pawar appealed to the citizens to cooperate with the government machinery to curb further spread of the virus in hamlets and societies. ''Stay at home, observe discipline and show restrain,'' said the DCM.
On the other hand, Pawar explained that the revival of the state economy will be a major task after the lockdown is lifted. This is crucial, as except continuous processes, the operations in almost all sectors have come to a halt. The mobilisation of manpower and other resources will take time to regain momentum.
Pawar's worry over the revival of the economy is valid, as the state economy grew at just 5.7 per cent in 2019-20 against 7.5 per cent in 2018-19 largely due to the economic slowdown. The prevailing slowdown and the lockdown will further impact the growth of the state economy in the current fiscal.
Already leading agencies have projected that India's growth may fall to 2.5 per cent. Pawar, on March 6, had presented the annual budget for 2020-21 with a revenue deficit of Rs 9,511 crore against Rs 20,293 crore estimated in 2019-20. The government has estimated revenue receipts of Rs 3,47,457 crore and revenue expenditure of Rs 3,56,968 crore, leaving a revenue deficit of Rs 9,511 crore.
Further, the economic survey for 2019-20 had painted a bleak picture, as agriculture and allied activities were expected to grow at 3.1 per cent in FY20. The survey said the industry and services sectors were expected to grow at 3.3 per cent and 7.6 per cent in 2019-20, slower than the previous fiscal year’s 5.5 per cent and 8.1 per cent, respectively.
