Punjab CM seeks cash transfer for poor people

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday demanded that the Centre give Rs 10,000 to the poor and provide financial assistance to small and medium enterprises to resume operation.

In a video message as part of the Congress party's ''Speak Up India'' campaign, the CM said, "We want the government to give Rs 10,000 to poor people." The government should give this amount to poor people who have been contributing in producing foodgrain and also working in factories, he said.The CM also sought financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises for reviving them.

The Congress on Thursday launched a ''Speak Up India'' campaign to help raise the voice of the poor, migrants, small businesses and the middle class people before the central government. Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi also sought immediate payment of Rs 10,000 to poor families. Besides, the minister also demanded monetary assistance of Rs 7,500 per month for the next six months to those families who are out of the Income Tax ambit, he said.

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar while highlighting the pain of migrant workers, demanded that the Union Government provide free train travel or bus service to send them home. In his message, Jakhar accused the Modi Government of forgetting the poor people.

He demanded the central government immediately transfer Rs 10,000 in the bank accounts of every poor family as the lockdown had “devastated” the economy of every section and the “worst hit” was the poor. 

He also demanded relief for small traders and shopkeepers, saying the middle class families also need money to survive by keeping the business going and not the package.