Arvind Kejriwal announces free ration for 2 months, Rs 5,000 to each autorickshaw drivers

The Delhi government on Tuesday announced to provide free ration to all ration cardholders for the next two months and Rs 5,000 each to all the autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers in the national capital.

"We have decided that all ration card holders in Delhi, around 72 lakh in number, will be given free ration for the next two months," said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

He further said that it does not mean that the lockdown will continue for two months. It is just being done to help the poor going through financial issues.

The Chief Minister also announced said that all autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers in Delhi will be given Rs 5000 each by the Delhi government so that they get a little help during this financial crisis.

"Imposition of the lockdown was necessary to curb the spread of the virus and to break the COVID-19 chain. But a lockdown can create great financial difficulties for the underprivileged sections, especially the daily wage labourers," said Kejriwal.

The Delhi government had last week said it has disbursed ex gratia payments of Rs 5,000 each to construction workers registered under the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

He further said that last year the Delhi government helped around 1,56,000 autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers.

Delhi CM further urged all the people and all the political parties to help each other without doing any politics. "If we all fight together, I hope that soon we will win the fight against coronavirus," he added.

The national capital on Monday reported as many as 18,043 new coronavirus cases and 448 deaths in the last 24 hours, Delhi's daily health bulletin informed.

This is the highest single-day death toll in the city since the pandemic broke out last year. The total active cases in the city now stand at 89,592. The cumulative positive cases now stand at 12,12,989, including 11,05,983 recoveries and 17,414 deaths.

(ANI)

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