Help Informal Sector: NGOs To State

Mumbai: The state cabinet on Wednesday unanimously decided to extend the lockdown-like restrictions in Maharashtra for 15 days. The official order on the extension is expected in a day or two, state officials said.

Minister for revenue Balasaheb Thorat also favored the extension of curbs. “To prevent the spread of Covid, lockdown-like restrictions must be extended for the next two weeks,” he said.

But groups working with the poor were unhappy and said better relief measures were required. “Informal workers have been the worst affected. As many do not have ration cards, relief has not reached them,” said Ulka Mahajan from Sarvahara Jan Andolan. “Also, the government has offered subsidies to segments of informal workers like construction workers, but many are unregistered and do not have bank accounts,” Mahajan added.