Maharashtra has become the epicentre of health and economic crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak which has claimed 45 lives in the state. Due to the 21-days nationwide lockdown, the business activities have come to a halt economically affecting the state.
As this happens, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to set up a high-level task force to manage the impact of the lockdown on the economy.
“Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has expressed concern over the declining financial situation and loss of jobs. As major industries will be closed for a prolonged period, it will have an adverse impact on the economy. I have requested the CM to set up a task force to draft an action plan to tackle the situation,” NCP supremo Sharad Pawar was quoted in media reports as saying.
Pawar expressed his concerns via Facebook Live while stating that the fake messages on social media were major concerns amid the coronavirus outbreak. Furthermore, Sharad Pawar also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draft a special economic package to tackle the financial crisis.
Earlier, the Maharashtra government sought a ₹25,000 crore package from the centre for Maharashtra due to health and economic crisis emerging amid the coronavirus outbreak. The central government is yet to release the Goods and Services Tax of Maharashtra which amounts to ₹16,654 crores.
Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio in Maharashtra, wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman earlier while demanding the release of GST funds from the centre.
The Maharashtra government also announced that the salaries of state government employees belonging to Grade A, B and C will be paid in instalments while stating that all elected representatives including the Chief Minister will face 60 per cent deduction in their salaries.
Maharashtra has been the worst-hit state with coronavirus cases nearing 900 while the death toll is 45. On April 7, 23 fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported in Maharashtra, taking the toll of infected cases in the state to 891.
Also Read - We Will Have To Take Precaution In Mumbai, Pune: Rajesh Tope On Lockdown Relaxation
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