K'taka govt announces Rs 1610 cr package; hikes excise duty on liquor by 11 per cent
Bengaluru, May 6 () The Karnataka government onWednesday announced a Rs 1,610 crore relief package for thebenefit of those in distress due to the COVID-19-inducedlockdown, and hiked excise duty on liquor by 11 per cent tomop up revenues.
The measures announced by the Chief Minister B SYediyurappa include compensation of Rs 5,000 each to thousandsof washermen, barbers, auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, whosedaily life has been affected.
It would also provide relief to farmers, flower-growers,MSMEs, large industries, weavers, and building workers.
The government has also hiked excise duty by 11 percent,which is in addition to the 6 per cent that was announced inthe budget, he said.
People from all sections of society are facing financialdifficulties due to lockdown of more than one and a halfmonths... the easing of lockdown does not mean it has ended.
No one one should misuse relaxation, and cooperate inimproving financial condition of the state," the ChiefMinister said.
Noting that despite financial condition of the state notso good, it was the duty of the government to come to therescue of people in distress, he said a Rs 1,610 crore reliefpackage is being announced, and no state has announced such abig package at such a situation.
"With in a week we will transfer the amount to accounts(of beneficiaries). We have stopped all development activitiesand doing this on priority for the welfare of those indistress, despite financial limitation," he added.
Flower growers have destroyed their flowers followinglack of demand for their produce due to the lockdown.
It is estimated that farmers cultivated flowers in about11,687 hectares.
Realising the problems facing flower growers, thegovernment announced compensation of Rs 25,000 per hectarelimited to a maximum extent of one hectare for the crop loss.
Farmers who have grown vegetables and fruits were unableto market their produce, and the government has decided toannounce a relief package for them soon.
COVID-19 has also affected service professionals such asbarbers and washermen (dhobis) both in urban and rural areas,and it has been decided to provide a one time compensation ofRs 5,000 each to benefit about 60,000 washermen and about 2.30lakh barbers.
It has been resolved to help about 7.75 lakh Auto andTaxi drivers by providing a one time compensation of Rs 5,000each.
MSMEs have also suffered huge production losses due tothe lockdown.
It takes some time for them to revive, Yediyurappa said.
The monthly fixed charges of electricity bills of MSMEswill be waived for two months.
Payment of fixed charges in the electricity bills of thelarge industries will be deferred without penalty and interestfor a period of two months.
The Chief Minister also announced certain benefits forelectricity consumers of all categories.
Already a Rs 109 crore weavers' loan waiver scheme wasannounced, of which Rs 29 crore has been released during 2019-20.
The balance amount of Rs 80 crore would be releasedimmediately.
This would help weavers get fresh loans to continue theiroccupation.
The Chief Minister also announced a new scheme, WeaverSamman Yojana (Nekarara Sammana yojane) for the benefit of thesuffering weavers.
Under this scheme, government would deposit Rs 2,000directly into the bank account of the handloom weaver throughDBT.
This would benefit about 54,000 handloom weavers in thestate.
There are 15.80 lakh registered building workers in thestate and the government has transferred Rs 2,000 to the bankaccount of 11.80 lakh of them through DBT.
Action has already been initiated to transfer Rs 2,000 tothe accounts of the remaining four lakh construction workerssoon after verifying beneficiaries bank account details.
In addition to this, an amount of Rs 3,000 would bedeposited into their accounts through DBT.
Further, more than 1 lakh migrant labourers who wished togo back to their native states, Yediyurappa appealed to themto stay back, as construction and industrial activities havebegun.
COVID-19 has not yet been eradicated, but it isinevitable that both efforts for controlling the spread ofvirus and economic activities for the development of the statehave to go hand in hand, he noted.