COVID-19: CM appeals to people to be “humane”, says social distancing should not mean isolating others

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the Centre must grant financial aid to the state for fighting Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). She said that West Bengal, due to its borders with other countries and being the gateway to Northeast India, is in an extremely vulnerable situation, and the Centre must ensure that the state is able to fight the outbreak. Nine persons have tested positive in Bengal so far and one of them died on Sunday afternoon.

Banerjee said no financial aid had been offered by the Centre so far, and said other states too should get financial aid in the unusual situation. She said that the West Bengal government has to pay a huge amount as debt to the Centre every month, which the government has so far refused to waive. She said that a Rs 200 crore fund had been allotted by the state to fight COVID-19, and asked people to donate to an Emergency Relief Fund that has now been created. “We have not even received a pair of gloves from the Centre till now,” she said.

She announced helpline numbers for people to get in touch with the government for any emergency. The toll free number is 1070, and the landline number is: (033) 22143526. Banerjee asked people to contact the government through the helpline numbers if they find someone without food and in distress. She also said that people can contact the police if they have fever and they would be assisted during this time.

Essential commodities, including vegetables, newspapers, will be allowed and police must ensure these are not stopped, she said. If anyone from the administration stopped essential commodities, action can be taken against them as well. She asked police to allow people in essential services to travel between their home and workplaces by giving them passes.

She also announced that anyone can contribute to the state’s Emergency Relief Fund. For materials relating to the crisis, one can contact Sanjay Bansal on 9051022000 and for donations, money can be transferred to the Account number the details of which are available on the government website: wb.gov.in

Banerjee also appealed to people to be more kind and humane and that social distancing does not mean isolating people. The lockdown is on for 21 days beginning Tuesday 12 midnight following the announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Banerejee today assured that people should be able to get essential commodities including groceries and medicines. She also appealed to people living in housing complexes to ensure that food is reached to elderly persons living there if required.

She said that ration and social pension two months will be given to beneficiaries during the next payment so that they can avoid going twice to withdraw the money and get the ration from shops. The government has already announced free ration for over 8 crore poor in the state till September and a payment of Rs 1,000 per family as their jobs have been hit due to the lockdown.

[Cover picture from Mamata Banerjee’s Facebook page, during her visit to state hospitals on Tuesday]