WHO lauds PM Modi for his efforts in containing the COVID-19
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Geneva, April 2: World Health Organization has appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to help the poor and migrant workers of India in the wake of the lockdown in the country.
Speaking to Twitter, the WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that steps like lockdown can lead to dire consequences for the poor and vulnerable section of the society. While he urged all countries to take note of this fact and ensure that these marginalized populations have food and life essentials during this crisis.
My appreciation to Prime Minister @narendramodi for announcing a $24 billion package to support 🇮🇳's vulnerable populations during #COVID19 crisis, including:
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020
-free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people
-cash transfers to 204M poor women
-free cooking gas for 80M households.
Following, the WHO chief continued to highlight Prime Minister Modi's work in this regard as an example and praised him for announcing a $24 billion package to 'support India's vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 crisis'.
However, many developing countries will struggle to implement social welfare programs of this nature. Broad and expedited agreement on debt relief is essential to enable them to care for their people and avoid economic collapse. #Solidarity
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020
He further said that many developing countries may struggle to implement social welfare programs up to this scale. However, as he said, "broad and expedited agreement on debt relief is essential to enable them to care for their people and avoid economic collapse.
However, to protect the poor from the economic impact of the lockdown the last week the Modi government had unveiled a fiscal stimulus package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore, (Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Yojana) to help the poor and migrant workers. Every household under the PM Gareeb Kalyan Scheme will receive 5 kg of rice or wheat per month, free of cost, in addition to what they receive under the National Food Security Act already. The household will also be eligible to get 1 kg of pulses free for three months.