There were much speculations as well as interest over Wednesday’s Rs 20 lakh crore economic relief plan details announced by the FM, since, a day earlier it was the core aspect of PM’s address to the nation. Keeping in view the fact that the package itself is a mammoth one, all attention converged on a particular point- to whom it will go and by how much. Reading between the lines, even if it could be said that it has spelt out some wayouts to negate the escalating economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are visible disenchantment, as, there is virtually nothing as an immediate rescue of the millions of migrant and unorganised sector labourers, whose difficult, by now has graduated into a major humanitarian crisis, unfounded before in India. But, since the FM has assured that there are more left of the package to be announced over the couple of next few days, there is no option but to wait with the longing that something substantial are actually rolled out for this hapless people.       

The major takeaways of the package have been the arc on reviving the coma-stricken Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and collateral-free loans worth Rs 3 lakh crore for those having turnovers up to Rs 100 crore till October 31, 2020 and the targeted    beneficiaries will be numbering a total of 45 lakh. But, among the slew of measures for the MSMEs, changing of the definition so as ensure that these tiny yet solid contributors to the annual national GDP continue to enjoy the benefits  has been widely hailed. Reduction of TDS or TCS for individuals and businesses at the time of transactions to put more money in their hands and postponing the deadline for filing income tax (I-T) returns  by large time periods and lowering of  EPF contribution for private employers by for three months which in effect will allow for increased amounts of take-home salaries can be viewed as mass-centric responses to the current crisis due to the pandemic. Extension of up to 6 months for all central government contractors and Rs 90,000 crore one-time infusion of liquidity for power distribution companies have also been well-received. But, it is still hard to ignore the sentiment that has also been highlighted by the opposition that why it is ‘nil’ for the worst sufferers of the lockdown- the still not properly documented millions of  hungry migrant workers who have been taken very little care.     

It has been said that there are still left in the package. It would have been more appreciable, if the hardest hit were given the priority. Anyway, these people must have their ‘dues’ and the next instalment(s) must address their hardships comprehensively. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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