CM KCR Suggested Extension of Lock down by Two Weeks

       

        Chief Minister Sri K Chandrashekhar Rao has urged Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi to extend the present lockdown, implemented to prevent spread of Corona Virus, for another two weeks. During the lockdown, the CM said to ensure that farmers are not to put to losses and there is no problem for the supply of essential commodities, the food processing industry should be allowed to function.

        Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi held a video-conference with all the Chief Ministers on Saturday. During the four hour-long videoconference, Chief Minister KCR made several suggestions to the PM. The CM who wanted the lockdown to be extended, expressed his opinion on issues related to lives of people, agriculture, finance etc.,

§  “India is fighting against the Corona Virus unitedly. The fight should continue with the same spirit. International media is also praising that the country was fighting against the Corona virus quite valiantly.

§  The states are getting required support from the Centre to fight against Corona. You are also speaking from time to time. Your support is giving us a great moral courage to us. India will be victorious over its war against Corona.

§  Lockdown has helped in containing the spread of Corona to a great level. It is better to extend the lockdown for two more weeks. There is no other better solution than this.

§  For our country the lifeline is agriculture. Not only providing food to people, agriculture provides livelihood to many.  It’s not possible for any country to feed India with its 135 Crore population. We are self-sufficient as far as food grains are concerned. This situation should continue. We have stand by farmer who feeds us.

§  To protect the agriculture sector and ensure there is no shortage of essential commodities, the food processing units should function. Measures should be taken to run Rice Mills, Oil Mills, and other agriculture based industries.

§  Link agriculture with the MNREGA. This scheme should continue for at least two months. Bring a policy by which farmers would pay half the wages for labourers and other half would be from the MNAREGA funds. With this we will be able to support farmers at the difficult times.

§  All over the country the agriculture yield was in several crores tonnes. The primary responsibility for us is to procure them. There is no place where we can store the procured food grains. By giving rice required for people for the next three months, the FCI Godowns in the country can be emptied. The newly procured food grains can be stored in these Godowns.

§  To prevent crowding of farmers at one place, in the Telangana State 6, 849 procurement centres were created at the village level and the food grains are procured from there. Only for the procurement of Paddy, the government gave Rs 25,000 Crore-Bank guarantee. We are procuring Paddy in the villages and depositing money in the accounts of the farmers directly. The Paddy thus procured is made into rice and supplied to the FCI. To get money from the FCI it will take four to five months. Till such time, the Centre should take measures so that Banks would not put any pressure for the payment of dues.

§  In 1918 due to Spanish Flu, there was an economic crisis all over the world. In 2008 there was an economic recession all over the globe. Due to proper measures we should get over it. Even now we are facing financial problems. To counter this we need a strategic economic policy. RBI should implement quantitative easing policy. This is called Helicopter money.  This will facilitate the States and financial institutions to accrue funds. We can come out the financial crisis. Release 5 per cent of funds from the GDP through Quantitative easing Policy.

§  Increase FBRM from 3 per cent to 5 per cent.

§  The Centre should take initiative to postpone for six months, the monthly interest paid by the States on debts from the Centre.

§  Create a task Force under the Chairmanship of the PM. In the backdrop of Lockdown, prepare an action plan on how to help farmers, the policy to be implemented on the economic situation

        Along with the CM, Medical and Health Minister Sri Etela Rajender, Chief Secretary Sri Somesh Kumar, DGP Sri Mahender Reddy, Principal secretary Sri  Ramakrishna Rao and others were present.

-Press note