CPM dubs Modi’s announcements for poor as a drop in ocean, Urges to release money collected in the name of PM
By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narednra Modi’s speech saying the announcements made by the PM yesterday are totally inadequate to meet the crisis of survival and livelihood being faced by crores of the countrymen. It described the provision of 5 kg of food grains and 1 kg of pulses is grossly inadequate to meet the survival needs of the people. It also dubbed the Rs. 500 to all Jan Dhan accounts as a pittance which mocks at people’s agonies.
In his speech on Tuesday, PM Modi announced the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a programme to provide free ration for over 80 crore people, mostly poor, by five more months till November end.
However, CPI (M) said at least 10 kg of foodgrain per individual per month for a period of six months is the minimum that needs to be ensured by the government.
At least 14 crore people have lost their jobs. Government itself admits that eight crore migrant workers were on the road for the last two months.
In this backdrop, CPI (M) said least required is a cash transfer of Rs. 7,500 per month for six months to all families outside the tax bracket. .
It also mocked the claim to provide jobs to all returned workers under MNREGA are a “fallacy”.
“The provision of 100 days work per year for an additional one crore people requires an allocation of Rs. 2.46 lakh crores. Budgetary allocations plus the announced measures during the lockdown amount to less than Rs. 1.5 lakh crore together. Until gainful employment is realised, unemployment allowance must be provided across the country.”
PM Modi claimed that nine crore farmers have benefited with the direct cash transfer of Rs. 2,000. The PM Kisan Yojana was announced on the eve of the 2019 general elections. This was to provide three annual installments of Rs. 2,000 each to 14 crore kisans. This announcement is the delayed second tranche of this scheme.
The Communist party termed it as the re-packaging of an earlier announcement and no additional relief. Further, instead of 14 crore kisans envisaged earlier, it is now only nine crore. Five crore kisans are, thus, deprived of even this measly relief.
PM Modi claimed that India, under his government, has commendably combated the Covid-19 pandemic. Mocking this claim, the party said even with one of the lowest testing rates in the world, the positive cases (third highest in the world, after USA and Brazil) and deaths are rising menacingly.
“At least now the Central government must augment health facilities on a war-footing, ensure PPEs to all health workers and provide universal health care.”
The party‘s Polit Bureau said the thousands of crores of rupees collected, in the name of combating the pandemic, by a private trust bearing PM’s name must be released immediately to ensure augmentation of public health facilities, cash transfer of Rs. 7,500 to all families outside the tax bracket per month for six months and 10 kg of free foodgrains to every needy person per month for the next six months.
