Assam losing Rs 1,000 cr daily during lockdown: CM Sonowal
Migrant workers returning to Assam will be trained todevelop their skills and absorbed in the state, the chiefminister said.
Terming the Rs 20 lakh crore special financial packageannounced by the Centre a "game-changer", he said around 24lakh people in over one lakh micro, small and mediumenterprises (MSME) in the state will immensely benefit fromit.
"This package will change the current economicscenario of the country towards growth. The Centre and statesare facing huge problems due to the halt in economicactivities on account of the lockdown," he said.
Asked about the losses Assam has incurred since thelockdown was announced in late March, Sonowal said the statehas not calculated any estimate as of now on this aspect.
"The CII did a survey and they told us that Assam lostRs 1,000 crore daily. We are going by their survey as they areexperts in such studies," he added.
On the Central package, the chief minister said thestate government will devise a road map to utilise the fundsfor the MSME units in consultation with all the stakeholders,including the owners and industry bodies.
"In Assam, 99.9 per cent of the industries are MSMEunits, which contribute 39 per cent of the state's GDP. Thepackage announced by the Union Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman will benefit Assam tremendously," he added.
The Central government on Wednesday announced a Rs5.94 lakh crore package, including Rs 3 lakh crore ofcollateral-free automatic loans to boost MSMEs.
Sonowal also expressed happiness that around 2,000sick units of the state will be benefitted from the fundannounced for stressed units by the Centre as part of thepackage.
A subordinate debt of Rs 20,000 crore for stressedunits, a Fund of Funds for equity infusion of Rs 50,000 crore,and revision in the definition of MSMEs are among the stepsannounced by the government to help MSMEs recover fromdisruptions caused by the coronavirus-related lockdown.
Sonowal said the state has urged the Centre to declareAssam as an investment destination for the foreign companieswilling to come and invest in India after the coronavirussituation eases.
Asked about the migrant labourers returning to Assamfrom different parts of the country, he said the stateconsiders them as assets, and not liabilities.
"They are a skilled force and we will absorb them. Ihave already instructed the industry minister to imparttraining for additional skills to them. The Economic AdvisoryCommittee formed to frame guidelines will also consider thisaspect," Sonowal said.
He said around 6.5 lakh people have registered so farin the helpline for the stranded people, but the exact numberof migrant workers is not known immediately.
On alleged corruption in selecting beneficiaries underthe Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme,Sonowal said an inquiry has been initiated and all the guiltywill be punished.