As the Covid-19 crisis has adversely affected economically weaker section across the country, Congress Leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 16, requesting him to order a monthly aide of Rs 6,000 for the economically stressed citizens based in states where the COVID-19 lockdown has been imposed.

In a letter to the prime minister, Chowdhury highlighted the hardship and suffering being faced by the poor, daily wagers and the marginalised sections of the society due to the lockdown imposed in various states. The lockdown, necessitated to curb the pace of virus transmission, has led to "hardship and suffering" for the poor, daily wagers and the marginalised sections of the society, Chowdhury stated in his letter to Modi.

"The central government should resort to direct cash transfer of Rs 6,000 per month in the bank accounts of all the eligible poor people of the states under lockdown, including the state of West Bengal.

"This will not only mitigate the sufferings of the millions of poor but is good economics as well because it will have a multiplier effect on the economy," he said.

Chowdhury said Congress president Sonia Gandhi has suggested that the Centre should provide free foodgrains to the needy and give Rs 6,000 per month to all the jobless people. The Congress has been demanding a provision of direct cash to the poor since a nationwide lockdown was first imposed in March last year after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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