Telangana spent Rs 2,455 crore in distribution of essential commodities during pandemic

About 6.47 lakh migrant workers were given Rs 500 each along with 5 kg of rice at free of cost which incurred total expenditure of Rs 107 crore.

Hyderabad: The State government spent Rs 2,455 crore to supply essentials to the poor and the needy for over eight months during the Covid-19 pandemic in the State last year. It had also strengthened the infrastructure in government hospitals and provided quality treatment to Covid-19 patients at an expenditure of Rs 1,178.28 crore.

“During the coronavirus pandemic, the government stood by the poor people of the State and also the migrant workers on humanitarian grounds. In the first three months of the lockdown, each person was provided with 12 kg of ration rice at free of cost. Even after that, 10 kg of rice was provided for five more months. Further, Rs 1,500 was provided as assistance to each family having a ration card for two months. This amount was transferred directly into their accounts,” said Finance Minister T Harish Rao, while presenting the State budget for 2021-22.

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Explaining various measures initiated by the State during the pandemic, the Finance Minister said the State government established 1,200 Corona testing centres across the State to control the spread of the virus and conducted tests on 2.11 lakh people out of every 10 lakh population. About Rs 1,178 crore were spent for setting up isolation centres, medicines, beds, food and other necessities towards the patients.

Migrant workers from different States who came to Telangana for their livelihood, were also given utmost care during the lockdown. About 6.47 lakh migrant workers were given Rs 500 each along with 5 kg of rice at free of cost which incurred total expenditure of Rs 107 crore. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao also took the initiative and arranged for 151 special trains in coordination with the Central government to transport around two lakh migrant workers to their native places. About Rs 17 crore were spent for the purpose.

Further, the State government provided an incentive of Rs 235.36 crore to the police, doctors and sanitation workers who were in the forefront of fighting the Covid-19 tirelessly. Besides providing Rs 25 crore for the advocates welfare during the pandemic, the government provided financial assistance to journalists affected by the virus.

“On behalf of the government, I would like to thank medical personnel, police, sanitation staff and officials of the departments concerned who worked as frontline warriors and rendered yeoman services during the Corona crisis. I would like compliment all the MLAs, MLCs, MPs, Corporators, Sarpanches and other public representatives who have always been amongst the people and instilled confidence among them during the crisis. Let us always continue with the spirit that we are all together and one, no matter what the difficulty is,” Harish Rao said.

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