Uddhav Thackeray writes to PM to declare Covid-19 a 'natural calamity'

If Covid-19 is declared a natural calamity, the state government will be able to pay gratuitous relief (GR) to families which come under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Priority Household (PHH).

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to declare Covid-19 as a 'natural calamity.' Mr Thackeray sought financial aid from the Centre and asked the PM to notify the pandemic a natural calamity so that the state government can have access to the funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

If Covid-19 is declared a natural calamity, the state government will be able to pay gratuitous relief (GR) to families which come under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Priority Household (PHH). The Maharashtra government will pay Rs 100 per adult per day and Rs 60 per child per day as GR during the lockdown because these families will be most affected during this time period.

Uddhav Thackeray said, "In view of the current Covid situation in the state, a mini lockdown is a necessity, Covid-19 pandemic may be notified as a natural calamity for State Disaster Response Fund." Mr Thackeray also appealed to the PM to extend the timeline of the submission of GST returns for the months of March and April by three months for small and medium taxpayers.

The CM also requested PM Modi to ask banks to defer due instalments in the first quarter of the current financial year without interest and help several startups and small entrepreneurs who took loans under different schemes launched by the state government. Meanwhile, Maharashtra has been reporting more than 50,000 Covid cases daily for more than a week.