Guwahati, Apr 20 () The Assam government on Mondaydeposited Rs 2,000 each under a "special scheme" to theaccounts of 86,000 people from the state, who are strandedacross India due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown to containthe spread of COVID-19.
Addressing a press conference here, Assam FinanceMinister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision to providefinancial support to those stuck at different places was takenby Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a review meetingon Sunday.
"This is the first instalment of financial support tothe needy people from Assam who are stranded outside. Thesecond instalment will be released before the lockdown islifted," Sarma said.
He, however, said the amount for the second tranchehas not been decided yet.
"In the first phase, we identified 99,758 peopleeligible to get this assistance. The rest will get the moneywithin the next few days," said Sarma, who is also the state'shealth and family welfare minister.
He said the special scheme was launched through anIT-enabled system, and 4,29,851 people had contacted the stategovernment officials via the central server in Guwahati.
"After final verification of the names and bankdetails, 99,758 persons were found to be eligible," he added.
Sarma said this initiative has also helped create adatabase of the workers and labourers from Assam employed inother states, with Karnataka recording the largest number at68,000.
"Now, when they arrive in Assam after the lockdown islifted, we will be able to track them easily. Accordingly, theDCs and SPs will make arrangements for quarantine," theminister said.
Sarma said the state government has already depositedRs 25,000 each to families of 647 people from Assam, who aresuffering from different ailments and undergoing treatmentoutside the state after getting stranded due to the curbs.
"We aim to provide this assistance to 725 patientscurrently outside the state," he said.
The Assam government has already provided the firstinstalment of USD 1,000 each to 230 people from the statestuck abroad, out of the declared amount of USD 2,000, Sarmasaid. TRRBT RBT