In view of the recent spike in the number of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in the State, the Uttarakhand Government has proposed to extend the period of lock-down beyond April 14. However the State Government has made it clear that it would follow the advice of the union Government on the extension and the period till when the lockdown would remain enforced.

 A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of the State cabinet held at the residence of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday. Informing about the Cabinet decisions, the Government spokesman, Madan Kaushik said that a recommendation to extend the lockdown period beyond April 14 would be sent to Union Government.

In another important decision the State Cabinet gave its consent for the proposal to reduce the salaries of the chief minister, ministers and the MLAs by 30 per cent. Kaushik said that the deductions would be on the lines of similar deduction made by the union government in the salaries of the ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs).

 The State Government has also decided to deduct Rs 1 Crore from the MLA local area development (LAD) fund for a period of two years for anti COVID-19 preparations. This deduction would be in excess of Rs 15 lakh already given by the MLAs for the purpose. The MLA-LAD fund in Uttarakhand is Rs 3.75 crore each per year.

It is worth mentioning here that the union government had decided recently that the MP LAD fund would be ceased for a period of two years for anti COVID-19 operations. In another decision, the state cabinet decided to double the monthly ration for 10.23 lakh ration card holders under the State food Scheme (SFS). Earlier called Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders, these SFS card holders would now get 15 kilogrammes (10 kilogrammes wheat and five kilogrammes rice) for three months.

The State also has more than 13 lakh ration card holders under Antyodaya scheme and National Food Security Mission (NFSM). The State Govt had already decided to provide three months of ration to them. Apart from it five kilogrammes rice and pulses would be given free of cost to these 13 lakh card holders. The Cabinet Min clarified that those who don’t have ration cards would be provided ration kits by the Government.

The minister said that the social organisations and other agencies involved in distribution of food and ration to the poor have been requested to work in coordination with local administration.