By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: Main opposition Congress on Thursday strongly flayed the second tranche of the “fiscal stimulus package” (Rs 5,000 crore) for the migrant workers announced by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today. The party said it showed the Modi government was “clearly blind” to the plight of migrant workers who have been left high and dry in the ongoing lockdown.
Continuing its criticism on the “fiscal stimulus package” of Rs 20 lakh crores announced on Tuesday by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress said the FM has once again disappointed migrant workers who have been most adversely impacted by the COVID crisis and its collateral economic damage.
Via video conferencing, party spokespersons Manish Tewari, and Supriya Shrinate described the FM Sitharaman’s today Press Conference as “a classical display of arrogance, ignorance and insensitivity” towards the migrants workers.
At a news conference, the FM said 8 crore migrant workers will get 5 kgs of grains and 1 kg of pulses free for two months, while 50 lakh street vendors rendered jobless by the lockdown would be given a working capital loan of Rs 10,000 each.
Congress leaders said Rs 5,000 crore package for these workers is a ‘peanut’ and out of it Rs. 1,500 crore for Shishu MUDRA loans is a cruel joke as it is not monetary assistant to them.
“The total outgo in second tranche of the so called fiscal stimulus package is merely Rs 5,000 crore (as quantified by the FM): Rs 3,500 Crore provisioned for ration to be provided to migrant workers without cards and the Rs. 1,500 crore interest subsidy for Shishu MUDRA loans.
Senior leader and former union minister Tewari highlighted the current migrant workers crisis describing it as the biggest “human disaster” after the 1947 partition and 1971’s East Pakistan crises. He said the Modi government is responsible for this “human disaster” as over 90 migrant workers have died on their way home so far.
“Does the PM or FM not see horrifying visuals of migrants walking back home, pregnant women, elderly, children. Over 90 migrant workers have died on their way home, who is responsible for these deaths?”
He said the FM accepted that migrant workers are walking home but did not say a single word on ramping up safe transport of these desperate workers.
“The sum total of all announcements is that those Migrant workers walking along highways to the safety of their homes can continue to do so at their own risk, the Government of India doesn’t care if they meet with accidents and die.”
He also questioned the double speak of the government saying the FM admitted that workers are moving home while the government told in Supreme court that no migrants on the road.
“This is in contrast to what the government told Supreme Court about no migrants on the road. Why did Solicitor General say what is admittedly not the truth?”
He termed affordable rental scheme for migrants and urban poor is a “carrot” that the government should be “ashamed’ to offer at a time like this.
“It’s a distant dream which entails industry and associations to be on board for this proposed Public Private Partnership. At a time when profits are shrinking, industry’s willingness to take up additional costs for this affordable rental scheme is under suspect.”
Instead of providing immediate relief to migrants, he said the FM wasted 40 minutes of her speech talking about decisions which are still pending before Parliamentary Standing Committee and in Courts.
“This government is clearly blind to the plight of migrant workers; they have been left high and dry.”
He also took the FM to task for saying that Rs11, 000 crore was used by states for shelter of migrants. “She needs to be reminded the central government did no favour, SDRF money is the money of states”.
On loans to street vendors as a rehabilitation package, he asked how many vendors got bank loans as one knows how difficult it to get a loan from banks for a common man is.
“This government is convinced that it can bluff its way out of this crisis by extending loans. Also show us one bank that lends to street vendors. By the way, how many street vendors have got bank loans”?
Congress leader said this government has changed the very definition of stimulus while it means offering help from government exchequer and not a liability to be repaid later.
“Instead of fiscal help it is too busy organising loan fairs (loan melas) instead. A fiscal measure is actual expenditure and putting money in the hands of the people.”
In response to a question, Supriya Shrinate invoked the National Food Security Act’s saying it mandates 66% coverage of the Indian population. She said the Congress demands that there is a huge need to universalise the Public Distribution System. Party also contested 8 crore migrant workers saying they account more 11 crore according to the 2011 census.