PM’s video conference with CMs today

KV Prasad
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 10

With Lockdown 3.0 entering home stretch this week, PM Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers on Monday as the country eagerly awaits next course both central and state governments will adopt to improve the economy in the ongoing fight against Covid-19.

While many states have extended lockdown till month-end, the possibility of another uniform application will have to be weighed against larger context of the need to fire engines of economy on various fronts.

Over the past few weeks, the Centre has issued orders to open up sectors in a calibrated manner. While measures to boost agriculture have borne fruit with procurement under way in states, other sectors, including manufacturing, are yet to resume operations the way government may want to see in permitted areas.

The governments also remain concerned over key challenges in the form of demand and supply constraints, including reduced availability of skilled workers, many of whom have either migrated to their native places and are in the process of doing so.

Monday’s meeting, the fifth such interaction on the issue the PM will have with CMs, also comes amid continuing struggle of workers stuck in various parts of the country, with some turning restive and preferring a more arduous journey on foot.

For over a week now, the Railways has been running ‘Shramik Special’ trains to ferry the stranded migrants amid political tussle over passenger fare, with many states announcing to underwrite the costs.