COVID-19: Give more RT-PCR testing kits to TN, CM tells PM
After participating in the virtual meet held by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi with several chief ministers on COVID-19 scenario, he sent a communication with the state's viewsand a wish list that also wanted Centre's nod for makingpayment of wages by cash to the workers of rural employmentguarantee scheme MGNREGS during the lockdown. The stand of the Tamil Nadu government on extension of thepresent lockdown curbs, scheduled till May 3, is not knownimmediately. Conveying views on the present coronavirus situation inthe state, the efforts being taken to tackle the contagion andthe support needed from the Centre, Palaniswami pointed outCOVID-19 death rate stood at just 1.2 per cent while recoverywas an encouraging 54 per cent with 1,020 patients having beendischarged due to effective medical treatment. Presently, the state has 30 government and 11 privatelabs for COVID testing, with a total capacity of 7,500 testsper day, he said. The government planned to increase testing to 10,000tests per day and Palaniswami requested the Centre to supplymore number of PCR testing kits, an official release saidhere.
"I request you to allow payment of wages to the MGNREGSworkers by cash at the village itself by the panchayatsecretaries, which will help the poor during this lockdownperiod, as well as prevent over-crowding at banks," the ChiefMinister said.
He also reiterated other demands made earlier as wellsuch as funds for procuring medical equipment. "The fiscal deficit limits of 3 per cent of GSDP may beincreased to 4.5 per cent for 2019-20 and 2020-21.Additional borrowing of 33 per cent above the permittedlevel for fiscal year 2019-20, may be allowed for 2020-21.The GST compensation for December-January may be releasednow," the Chief Minister said.
Relief package to ease burden on the power sector,support to MSMEs, additional allocation of food grains free ofcost for all card (ration) holders were among the otherdemands, he made. VGNVS VS