The Delhi Government has sought an aid of Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia has written a letter to the Union Finance Minister in this regard and highlighted how the lockdown induced by the Covid 19 pandemic has impacted the country’s economy and also of Delhi.
Interacting digitally, Sisodia said, “We have reviewed Delhi Government’s minimum expenses. According to that, we would need around Rs 3,500 crore every month to pay salaries to our employees and to meet other office expenses. The GST collections in the past two months have only been Rs 500 crore, and after combining it with other sources, we have managed to collect Rs 1,735 crore. But we actually need at least Rs 7000 crore,” said Sisodia.
“Other States have received financial assistance from the Disaster Relief fund, but Delhi Government has not received any such aid yet. Even during usual times, Delhi does not receive any sort of aid from the Centre,” said Sisodia, adding,”But now as Government’s revenue is severely affected due to the COVID 19 induced lockdown, it is about time we received some financial relief from the Centre to be able to pay salaries of our employees- teachers, doctors, engineers, civil defence personnel, and people involved in coronavirus relief work,” he said.
In his letter dated May 26, 2020, Sisodia addressing the Union Finance Minister has written, The government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has been managing all its development and infrastructure expenditure within its means,” “the financial year 2020-21, the Delhi Legislative Assembly has passed the budget of Rs 65,000 crore. Out of which, Rs 35,500 crore constitutes committed expenditure towards establishment, devolution to Local Bodies and interest & loan repayment liability to Government of India. In the normal course, Delhi is not only confident in managing its budgetary requirement but also results in budgetary surplus. However, due to the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country as well as the world, due to Covid 19 pandemic, there is a valid need for immediate help from the Centre. The one time grant of Rs 5,000 crore will thereby help Delhi tide over the immediate crisis. This will also facilitate the Delhi government in releasing the grants to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi who largely depend on the Delhi Govt to pay salary and other establishment,” the letter quoted.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Delhi government has also upgraded its hospitals to tackle Covid 19. PPEs, ventilators, testing kits, N 95 masks and sanitizers have been made available. Apart from providing cooked food, free ration and shelter to the needy, the Delhi Govt has also been working tirelessly to send migrant workers back to their homes through Special Shramik trains.
