Bengaluru, Apr 18: Amid fears that people from the unorganised sector are running out of cash to meet their daily expenses, the Karnataka government said there was no data available for such labourers, who can be provided financial assistance under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme.
"The government does not have data of people in the unorganised sector such as drivers, farmers, domestic help and others. If we have to deposit directly into their account, we need data..," State Labour minister A Shivaram Hebbar told reporters.
The minister said a situation borne out of the COVID-19, where the entire nation has been lockdown was never anticipated.
To him, the pandemic has given an opportunity to gather information about the unorganised sector.
"This COVID-19 has taught the department and the workers a lesson that we should be prepared for a situation like this. We have learnt that all the information about labourers should be available with the labour department," Hebbar conceded.
The minister opined that the department should have had the list during the good times but nobody bothered to have it.
"During the good times nobody bothered about it -- neither they (beneficiaries) asked for it, nor we thought of it.," Hebbar said.
Now that the pandemic has struck, the government is focusing only on not letting anyone starve to death.
A three-level preparation has been made -- at the village level, Taluk level and the city level, the minister said.
Village anganwadis have been stuffed with food items to be cooked for the needy, whereas in Taluk level, government hostels have been turned into shelters for the labourers, he said, noting that lakhs of philanthropists in cities have come forward to feed the people from unorganised sector.
"The basic objective of our government is that no one should starve to death. The issue of organised or unorganised sector comes next," he explained.
On the fear of large-scale retrenchment, the minister said notices have been served on all the industries that no one should be expelled from the job.
However, Hebbar underlined that the industrialists today are as much in distress as the workers and his department was taking into account everyone's concern.
A decision will be taken in this connection by the government in the next two days, to provide assistance to small enterprises to keep them afloat.
Comments
No muslim will pelt stone to mosques. Then who else???
I wont think that KN govt will control those media. especially siddaramaiah govt. They are always giving preferences to Mulsims
I can strongly say that many of the issues worsening because of biased medias. They are propagating their ideology. Karnataka govt should control that.
Police should act fast and effectively. Should use commandos if needed
Guilty people should get arrested
Mr. Althaf. Did those people written and kept we are Hindus..? I too saw video. From low resolution video how to came to know that he is those people are Hindus. I know many Muslims who does not like many of your rules and rigidity.
honnavara is burning, chickmangalore is in boil, Hunsur suppose to burn! but the communal goons roam free, and we say secular govt, is in power! vote devide bla bla bla!!!! jus wake up and see the realities!!
The policemen belongs to CongRSS party which is ruling Karnataka..
I saw one video in that hindus are pelting stone at mosques and piolice personel are watching this without taking any action. Infront of police Hindu guys are destroying public properties and police is watching the show. Shame on police. How can people trust this police?? Who will save muslim properties and mosques?
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