Kerala seeks huge financial assistance from Centre

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said that the state has sought a comprehensive financial package from the Centre to tide over the damages that Covid-19 has inflicted on the state.

In Monday's video conference meet of the Prime Minister with state Chief Ministers, Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose represented Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan since it was the smaller states that presented their position before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing the media after the daily Covid 19 review meeting, Vijayan said the expected loss in the first quarter of the present fiscal for the state would be around Rs 80,000 crore.

"This include over 83 lakh man days lost in the casual labour sector, besides the hotel and restaurant sector, fisheries, IT sector, other organised and unorganised sectors," he said.

"We have demanded a comprehensive financial package, which includes an interest free loan ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh for the small and medium segment business," he added.

Vijayan said that among the other things that have been raised with the Centre includes footing of the air ticket of those who are financially weak after losing their jobs in the Middle East and are presently waiting to return here.

"The state government, if required, will do the needful, if the returning diaspora's children require admission in schools. The Centre should come out with a special package which will help for the rehabilitation of the diaspora who will come from the Middle East. So far 2 lakh diaspora have registered in the Norka-Roots website waiting to be repatriated," he added. IANS