State to provide rice & wheat free of cost: CM

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced the distribution of free-of-cost rice and wheat among 7.85 crore people of the state till September in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Banerjee said those, who now get it for Rs 2 a kg, will be getting rice and wheat free of cost and the decision has been taken to extend support to people of the state in such a trying time.

Each member of a family will get 5 kg rice and wheat free of cost every month, Banerjee said while addressing a Press conference at Nabanna on Friday. "The step has been taken considering that many cannot even buy the same in such a situation," she said.

The distribution of the same is expected to start once the government order is issued. According to a state government official, a beneficiary would get the foodgrains free of cost in a combination of 2 kg rice and 3 kg wheat or vice versa. It will be distributed through the ration shops. There was a high-level meeting in the state Food and Supplies department as well in this regard and the officials of the department have started taking necessary measures to begin distribution of the same at the earliest.

The Chief Minister has taken a series of steps to check the spread of the pandemic and even urged support from people from all walks of life to work together to win this battle.

Banerjee said a State Emergency Relief Fund has been set up as many want to extend support and a huge infrastructure is getting developed to combat the disease. "They (Centre) are giving us nothing," Banerjee said adding that the details of the relief fund will be available on the state government's website from Monday.

As a measure to check gatherings and to ensure that less number of people travel at the same time in local trains and buses, 50 per cent of the state government employees will be attending office from Monday onward till March 31. The remaining 50 per cent, apart from the essential services, will be working from home.

In this connection, she also said: "Respective departments will be preparing the roster as to who will be attending office and who will work from home alternatively." As 100 per cent e-governance has been implemented in Bengal, Banerjee stated that the mechanism will be helpful to people in doing their work from home.

In connection with private companies, she stated that it is up to the firms to decide whether they wish to implement this alternative mechanism.

The Chief Minister also praised the health and conservancy workers and the police for their relentless service by risking their lives and announced that they will be given special leaves after Durga Puja.

Meanwhile, a Kolkata resident with a recent travel history to the United Kingdom has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus, making it the second confirmed case in Bengal, an official said on Friday.

The man returned from the UK on March 13 and was admitted to the Beliaghata ID Hospital in the city on March 19 with symptoms of COVID-19, the state government official said. The man is in his early 20s and a resident of Ballygunge area.