CM Thackeray writes to PM; 'Declare COVID-19 pandemic a natural calamity, allow use of SDRF'

The number of corona patients in the country is increasing day by day. The rapid growth of covid cases has become a cause for concern and over the last 10 days, more than 1 lakh corona patients have been found in the country every day. The number of new coronavirus cases in India hit a record daily high with 2,00,739 infections in the last 24 hours pushing the total tally of cases to 1,40,74,564, while the active cases are 14,71,877, according to the Union Health Ministry data. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced a 'Break the Chain' campaign to curb the rising covid cases. A curfew has been imposed in the state from today. Section 144 will be applicable in the next 15 days in the state. The Chief Minister has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the growing covid cases in the state. The chief minister has demanded that Corona be declared a natural disaster. He also requested the PM to allow the State Disaster Response Fund, or SDRF, to be used to provide individual benefits to affected people.

Chief Minister Thackeray addressed the people of the state on Tuesday. 'Natural disasters are declared after earthquakes, droughts, floods after which, financial help is given to the victims. We have all accepted the Corona pandemic as a natural calamity. Therefore, financial assistance should be given to those whose livelihood is in crisis due to this natural calamity, 'the Chief Minister had said.

Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte confirmed that the Chief Minister had written a letter to the Prime Minister. 'The Covid-19 pandemic was a calamity. But the disaster has not been declared a natural calamity. Therefore, it is not possible to provide personal financial assistance to those affected by this crisis. The decision to declare Corona a natural calamity is a policy decision that the Centre could take . The Center should take steps in this regard, 'said Kunte.