Centre's relief package inadequate: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) said on Thursday the Rs 1.75-lakh-crore economic package announced by the Centre in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic was inadequate.

The comments come after the government unveiled the relief package involving free food grain and cooking gas to the poor for the next three months, one-time doles to women and poor senior citizens, higher wages to workers and measures to boost liquidity of employees, as it looked to contain the impact of unprecedented nationwide lockdown over the deadly COVID-19
"The announcement to give Rs 1000 to aged widows and the disabled is too little," Yechury said. "The insurance cover for health workers come at no cost to the government. There is no clarity if this covers the private sector."
He underlined that what the health workers required immediately was protective gear, medicines and adequate testing facilitie, adding that there was no mention of this."