Uttar Pradesh to give free ration to 1.65 crore construction workers - ET RealEstate

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday announced that around 35 lakh labourers in the state will get Rs 1,000 each as financial aid while free ration for one month will be provided to 1.65 crore construction workers amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials for immediate release of payment to MNREGS workers in the state and to make foodgrains available to the poor in cities and villages, a statement issued by the UP government said. "In view of the precautions being taken throughout the country to prevent the coronavirus outbreak, the state government is alert and cautious. With immediate effect, the state government will provide Rs 1,000 per person for maintenance to 35 lakh labourers. It said Adityanath has instructed officials to provide one month free ration in April to over 1.65 crore construction workers and daily labourers registered under the Antyodaya Yojana and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MNREGS) with the Labour Department. Daily wage labourers in urban areas who do not have ration cards will get the document on priority basis, the statement said. It said the chief minister has also directed officials that payment be immediately released to the MNREGS workers in the state. "Orders have been issued to provide food grains to those working in rural and urban areas in the state, especially to labourers, cart pullers and others," the statement said. Adityanath appealed to the people of the state to stay indoors during Sunday's 'Janata' curfew called for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Reminding people of the Prime Minister's appeal to citizens to avoid going to crowded places and not to hold any public gathering, Adityanath said as a precautionary measure the government has directed shutting down of all educational institutions, multiplexes, theatres and malls in the state and that unnecessary traffic has been stopped.