Mega package, a loan mela

New Delhi: For the people who are financially shattered due to Covid 19 crisis, the Central government has offered nothing but a bunch of loan schemes.  And to address the plight of migrant labourers, they are offered grains from the reserve storage of the country. In short, the government has turned its back on the demand for direct financial assistance.

That is the picture emerging as Nirmala Sitharaman gives details one after another of the mega package declared by the prime minister,. The first part of the package has loan schemes for the small and medium enterprises.  In the second part, loans are extended to farmers and street vendors.

It is yet to see how many people can benefit loan schemes as most of them are in no position to borrow and repay loans. For inter-state labourers, rehabilitation issues including livelihood are perplexing questions. A five-kilo rice packet and one kilo of gram cannot solve the problems faced by the migrant labourers who are forced to walk  thousands of kilometres suffering hunger and pain to reach their homes.

It is important give cash in their hands to meet their expenses in the coming days. However, the government is not giving such a consideration. Aid to the street vendors also should not be in the form of loans, as theyare not in a position to repay loans.

The agricultural produce should be given minimum support price to help the farmers. However, they are offered Kisan Credit Card.  The government is turning a blind eye to the reality that the farmers need financial assistance or reasonable price for the agricultural produce which are getting rotten due to lack of supply chain.