Here is How State Governments Have Acted to Combat COVID-19 India

(Above is a map of India depicting the state-wise breakup of coronavirus cases in India)

Various state governments have taken several steps in the backdrop of the deadly coronavirus outbreak across the country. Many welfare measures were taken so that the livelihoods of daily wage workers should not be affected. Various state governments have also asked private firms to continue the salary to their staffs despite the slowdown of the economy.

Here is a list of the actions state governments have been taking to fight coronavirus spread in their territories. 

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government has been facing a health crisis amid the Covid-19 outbreak in the state. More than 122 cases have been detected in the state, including some deaths too. Since the deadly Covid-19 outbreak, the state government has left no stone unturned. It is undeniable that India’s most urbanised and industrialised state is passing through a bad phase. Big firms and individuals have come forward to help the government to fight against the Covid-19 outbreak. Some of the positive steps taken by the state government are:

  • In the beginning, the Maharashtra government encouraged work from home in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
  • CM Uddhav Thackeray urged district collectors to stop crowding at the religious sites because of coronavirus threat.
  • The state CM said foreign tours had been banned and gram panchayat and other local body meetings have been postponed. The CM announced that political meetings, events, and so on would not take place for the time being.
  • The state government decided to stop the flow of people in the state’s secretariat, which is in South Mumbai.
  • Closure of schools was declared in rural areas.
  • The state government asked the officials to keep sanitisers and soaps in public toilets in the wake of coronavirus spread.
  • Before PM Modi’s 21 days shut down, the Maharashtra government had shut down all non-essential services till March-31 but exempted Grocery shops, Milk shops, Banks.
  • Uddhav Thackeray said, “We have no weapons to fight this thing (virus) except social distancing, and hence we have decided to take this step”.
  • The Chief Minister appealed to those firms being shutdown to show humanity and urged the owners of the firms and establishments to pay the salaries of their employees.
  • Cancelled state board exams from 1st to 8th standard students

In the wake of coronavirus, governments across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and other states as well are making an effort to provide financial help to compensate businesses and people, particularly the worst-hit daily wagers. They depend on their regular earnings to fulfil their basic needs.

Kerala

  • The Kerala government facilitated loans worth Rs 2,000 crore through a self-help group ‘Kudumbashree’ in the wake of Covid-19.
  • The state government has also decided to distribute 2,000- crore as village employment assurance programme for April and May.
  • The Kerala government will distribute social welfare pensions this month instead of April.
  • Foodgrains will be provided to families from all spectrums, whether they are below the poverty line or not.
  • The government has allowed a one-month extension for the payment of water and electricity bills.
  • The state government planned that meals would be offered at Rs 20 instead of Rs 25, which was fixed earlier.
  • Tax relief has been announced to auto-rickshaws and taxis and buses.
  • The state government has already announced Rs 20,000-crore special package in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
  • Package of Rs 14,000 crore to clear all arrears pending in various sectors and Rs 500-crore health package

Delhi

  • The Kejriwal government has announced to pay salaries for all contractual staff, daily wage staff and guest teachers employed at places that have been closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia said the novel coronavirus was causing terrible financial stress to the poor and announced that those receiving ration from fair-price shops would get 50 per cent extra for next month.
  • CM Arvind Kejriwal has doubled the pension for widows, differently-abled and elderly for this month.
  • 7.2 million people in Delhi get ration from fair price shops.
  • Ration per person is being increased by 50 per cent.
  • The CM declared that the goods and services tax would be waived to make it more affordable for those who needed to be quarantined and were opting for the paid hotel facility.

Haryana

  • The state government of Haryana has also announced special financial assistance for people in Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and low-income groups like daily wagers, labourers, street vendors and construction workers.
  • This will cost the state government nearly Rs 1,200 crore per month, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said.
  • As part of relief measures, the state also announced setting up of a Haryana Corona Relief Fund (HCRF). It appealed to the people to make voluntary donations, as the CM himself contributed Rs 500,000 from his account.
  • The money will be used to mitigate the hardship of those affected by the Covid-19 spread.
  • CM said all BPL families would be provided with their monthly rations for April free of cost while all government school children and those enrolled with anganwadis will be given dry rations for the period the schools and anganwadis stay closed.
  • Those registered with the Haryana Board of Construction Workers but have not registered under Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samriddhi scheme will be provided with a sum of Rs 4,500 per month every week starting March 30.
  • Daily wagers, including labourers and street vendors, may register with the deputy commissioner of the district on a portal that will be established by March 27, Khattar said, adding all such persons, found eligible and having a bank account, will be directly assisted with Rs 1,000 per week.
  • All coronavirus patients, if requiring hospitalisation, will be admitted free of cost.
  • All health and frontline workers, engaged in curbing the coronavirus spread, will be provided accident insurance of Rs 1 million. The government will announce a special package for agriculture and farmers by March 28.

Punjab

  • Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has declared an immediate relief of Rs 3,000 to each registered construction worker in the state.
  • The money would be transferred to their bank accounts in a bid to mitigate the hardships being faced by them in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
  • A total sum of Rs 96 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.
  • CM Amarinder Singh sanctioned Rs 20 crore out of the Chief Minister Relief Fund for providing free food and medicines to the needy in the state.
  • Punjab IAS officers association and state cabinet ministers also announced to donate their one month salary to the CM relief fund.
  • Punjab Health Minister has requested the Centre to release Rs 150 crore for building isolation wards and other buildings necessary to treat coronavirus patients.
  • The state has directed the local government department to defer the due date of making payment of water and sewerage bills by one month in all Municipal Corporations and Councils, besides extending the amnesty scheme on property tax till May 31, 2020.

Himachal Pradesh

  • Himachal Pradesh government has announced Rs 500-crore relief package for the poor and the needy, and Rs 30 crore for construction workers who are likely to face financial troubles due to the coronavirus outbreak.
  • About 105,000 workers registered with the Building and Construction Workers Board will be provided Rs 2,000 as one-time relief.
  • Besides this, ration, including flour and rice for two months will be given to targeted public distribution system cardholders.
  • In the same way, Rs 160.2 crore as the first-quarter pension will be released to social security pension holders in the first week of April.
  • Moreover, Rs 3,000 as the first-quarter pension will be provided within a fortnight to about 534,000 social security pension holders, including about 125,000 widows and disabled persons.

Uttar Pradesh

  • The Uttar Pradesh government announced a financial package of over Rs 353 crore to be distributed among the estimated 3.53 million daily wagers and labourers who are worst hit due to the crisis of Covid-19 outbreak.
  • Meanwhile, the Yogi Adityanath government had decided to give Rs. 1,000 each to 1.5 million daily wage labourers and 2.03 million construction workers across the state through direct benefit transfer.
  • The money will be transferred directly into their bank accounts.
  • The state government had also announced to give free food for April and May in advance to more than 8.38 million widows, old age and disabled pensioners
  • UP government has asked the Union government to sanction Rs 556 crore for payment towards the jobs rendered by beneficiaries under the MNREGS.

 West Bengal

  • The West Bengal introduced a relief package for 7.9 crore people who get subsidised rations.
  • The government will give free ration to the poor until September.
  • People getting subsidised rice at Rs 2 per kilo and wheat at Rs 3 per kilo will now get them free (a maximum of 5kg a month).
  • The state CM said government hospitals had 800 beds ready and the new highrise at Rajarhat could accommodate 8,000 people.
  • Banerjee, however, is not banking solely on the Centre. “We have already requisitioned masks, gloves and alcohol-based sanitisers that will hit markets soon,” she said.
  • The Bengal CM appealed to private hospitals, nursing homes and private clinics not to refuse people coming with fever. “We have already set up a Rs 200-crore fund to fight the virus,” she said.

Telangana

  • The Government of Telangana has empowered all the officers from the Director of Public Health, Commissioner of Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, district collectors, and municipal commissioners to take stringent measures necessary to prevent the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) or its spread within their respective jurisdictions.
  • Microsoft (CEO) Satya Nadella’s wife Anupama Venugopal Nadella on Tuesday announced to donate Rs 2 crore to fight against the novel coronavirus in Telangana.
  • Government employees and teachers have donated a day’s basic salary.
  • Employees joint action committee leaders Karem Ravinder Reddy and Mamata have handed over a cheque for Rs 48 crore to the chief minister.
  • The State government has assured the people that all the measures will be taken to contain the spread of the virus in the state.

Karnataka

  • The Karnataka government announced measures for the poor like payment of two months of social security pension in advance, the release of Rs 1,000 per person to about 21 lakh construction workers and waiving of Rs 13.20 crore loan under “Badavara Bandhu” scheme, among others.
  • Twenty-one lakh construction workers will be paid Rs 1,000 per person.
  • The CM said the social security pension of two months would be released in advance for the poor, additional working days amount will be released in advance under MNREGA scheme and two months ration will be supplied immediately.

Tamil Nadu

  • The Tamil Nadu government has announced that ration cardholders in the state will be given rice, sugar and relief of Rs 1,000.
  • “To avoid long queues, commodities will be issued on a token basis,” Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Tuesday.
  • A Rs 3,850 crore special relief package was announced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday to help people whose livelihood has taken a hit due to the curbs put in place for battling the coronavirus.
  • For senior citizens, food will be provided at anganawadis for free of cost, the government has announced. For those who are unable to move will get free food delivered at their doorstep.
  • Amma canteens will be functioning continuously. Extra cooking places will be arranged for poor people, the CM informed.
  • Rs 3,250 crore relief fund has been set aside by the government to help people in the unorganised sector.

Madhya Pradesh

  • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced that all Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be provided a month’s ration free, because of lockdown.
  • The CM further said Rs1,000 would be provided to labourers as support through the State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
  • The state CM also announced ₹2,000 for two months to each Saharia, Baiga and Bharia family.
  • Moreover, old age and social security pensioners would receive an advance amount of ₹1,200 for two months.
  • Even for daily wage workers and students, the government would arrange for food packets.
  • Chouhan added, “I want to appeal to social workers that we need to arrange food for students stranded in different cities and the poor, too.”
  • The CM assured that the government would not let there be a shortage of essential goods.
  • The state government has arranged vehicles for the home delivery of medicines.
  • “As schools are closed, food items meant for children under the midday meal scheme can be collected from the public distribution system ration stores,” Chouhan said.
  • As regards farmers, the CM said owing to the harvest seasons, threshers and harvesters had been allowed to operate.
  • Mr Chouhan said he had donated a month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to contribute towards combating the virus’ spread.

Gujarat

  • The Gujarat government will provide food items like wheat, rice, pulses and sugar-free of cost to around 60 lakh ration card holding families through fair price shops starting April 1.
  • The scheme is to ensure that the poor, who depend on daily wages for livelihood, are not affected by the 21-day nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak.
  • The Gujarat CM said the poor do not have to purchase food items for April,
  • Gujarat has made an important decision, that poor families – around 60 lakh families, or 3.25 crore individuals – holding ration cards, will get food items, including 3.5 kg wheat and 1.5 kg rice per person, and 1 kg of pulses, sugar and salt per family free of cost from April 1.
  • The state government added “With works closed for 21 days, low-income families earning daily livelihood face significant problems. Our sensitive government understands this, and we will take more such decisions in future.

Uttarakhand

  • Uttarakhand government has announced a helpline number to assist COVID-19 affected. People who are stranded in other states can get in touch with the Uttarakhand government through 0135 2722100 on landline or 9997954800 on WhatsApp.
  • Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the state government is “fully prepared to tackle the threat of coronavirus”.
  • The state has made appropriate isolation facilities, adequate medicines, and masks have been provided.
  • Steps have also been taken to ensure that there is no shortage of these supplies.
  • Rawat also said that doctors and health officials had been fully trained to deal with any emergency.
  • The CM added quarantine facilities have been introduced in several areas including Dehradun, Haridwar, and Nainital with a capacity to hold 800 people.
  • “Do not panic over common colds and coughs, as they don’t need to be related to coronavirus,” the CM said.

Chattisgarh

  • Before the nationwide lockdown, the Chhattisgarh government ordered the closure of all public libraries, gyms and swimming pools in urban areas of the state till March 31 amid novel coronavirus scare.
  • The government also issued orders to keep Anganwadi and mini-Anganwadi centres in the state shut during this period as a measure to prevent the spread of infection.
  • The state government has also warned of stern action against those who hide their foreign travel history, and their family members.
  • Meanwhile, the state public relations department has asked Chhattisgarh-based journalists, who attended the press conference of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath in Bhopal on March 20, to stay in self-quarantine and immediately contact health officials.

Rajasthan

  • Rajasthan govt imposes CrPC Section 144, prohibiting gatherings, in the entire state because of coronavirus.
  • Nine liquor factories in seven districts of Rajasthan will be used to produce sanitisers.
  • Four private companies and five production units of state-owned Ganganagar Sugar Mills have been directed by the state government to start manufacturing sanitisers.
  • The chief minister’s office said 7.8 million people, who get social security benefits, will get a pension for two months in advance.
  • “During the lockdown, no one will sleep hungry in Rajasthan,” the CM said
  • Apart from this, 3.65 million Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, state BPL and Antodaya beneficiaries and 2.5 million construction workers and registered street vendors, who are not covered under the pension scheme, will get Rs 1,000 as one-time relief.
  • Gehlot said these measures would provide relief to at least 14.1 million families in Rajasthan.
  • The state government had earlier announced free ration for two months for families covered under the
  • National Food Security Act (NFSA), who get wheat for Re 1 and Rs 2 a kilo.
  • The government will provide ration packets to people not covered under the NFSA. These packets will be distributed through government buildings in rural and urban areas and will contain wheat flour, pulses, rice, cooking oil and other essential commodities.

Bihar

  • The Bihar CM said all ration cardholder families across the state would be given one month’s ration free-of-cost.
  • The Bihar CM further added Rs 1,000 per family would be given to all ration cardholder families residing in lockdown areas under all urban local bodies and panchayats located in the block headquarters.
  • This amount will be transferred directly in the bank accounts of beneficiaries under direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme.
  • All government doctors and health employees would be paid an incentive equivalent to their one month’s basic pay.
  • In an apparent attempt to help senior citizens, the CM further announced that all pension holders covered under the schemes like the Mukhya Mantri Vridhjan Pension, Dibyang Pension, widow pension and old-age pension; would immediately be paid pension amount of next three months in advance. This amount would be directly transferred in their bank accounts.
  • Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, announced on Monday that he would donate his one-month salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for coronavirus preventive measures.
  • He also offered his 1, Polo Road bungalow to be used as a quarantine centre or for treating patients.
  • The Mahavir Mandir Trust has donated Rs1 crore to the CM Relief Fund for fighting Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

Assam

  • The Assam government ordered the closure of all liquor bars, country liquor bars, night clubs, beauty parlours and salon (unisex) in the state in the wake of coronavirus.
  • The Assam government will provide mid-day meals to 40 lakh students below 14 years of age at home.
  • The state government has organised more than 2,000 facilities for quarantine, and there are over 500 facilities for isolation.
  • Assam Chief Secretary, Kumar Sanjay Krishna said We have enough places for ICU facilities.
  • He further added We have about 150 ventilators and trying to procure some more.
  • Apart from monitoring the health of 750,000-odd tea workers in the estates, the government has decided to temporarily take over estate hospitals, creches and clubhouses in the tea gardens.
  • Additionally, each of the estates will be provided with Rs 5,000 to sensitise the workers and officials about Covid-19.
  • Ace Indian sprinter Hima Das has pledged to donate her one month’s salary to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Das will be donating her salary to Assam’s COVID-19 relief fund.

Andhra Pradesh

  • The Andhra Pradesh government announced free ration to the poor and Rs 1000 assistance per family.
  • The Jagan Mohan Reddy government has announced that all government and private establishments shall make payments of wages and salaries to those working, under contract or outsourcing basis, during the lockdown.
  • Film star Mahesh Babu has announced Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister’s relief fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
  • Film actor Pawan Kalyan donated a sum of Rs 50 lakh each to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana government to help fight against Covid-19.

Jharkhand

  • The Jharkhand government released a rate chart of various essential items.
  • According to the rate chart, pulses have been fixed at Rs 75 a kg, wheat flour between Rs 22 and Rs 25 every kg, mustard oil is priced between Rs 90 and Rs 95, rice between Rs 20 and Rs 24 per kg, refined oil between Rs 75 and Rs 80 and channa priced at Rs 60 a kg.
  • Rs 200 crore has been earmarked towards expenditure in connection with the tests and setting up of other apparatus to deal with any situation.
  • A total of 300 doctors and medical staff have been trained to deal with the situation.
  • New jail inmates will be kept in isolation before being shifted to general wards.
  • The Chief Minister also announced that Rs 200 crore would be released for medical equipment and facilities.

Odisha

  • The Odisha government on Thursday announced it would set up two 500-bed hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients exclusively.
  • The hospitals, being set up in partnership with Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, will be functional in a fortnight.
  • Panchayats across the state have already readied 7,200 beds for isolation and quarantine purposes.
  • On Wednesday, Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) had announced a contribution of Rs 500 crore towards efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus infection.
  • Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, director health programmes, SUM Hospital, said the Covid-19 treatment wards would not just provide isolation wards but also world-class ICU and critical care facilities.
  • People with symptoms can call the 104 helpline number to be brought to the hospital’s isolation wards.
  • Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has donated his three months’ salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help those affected by the novel coronavirus.
  • The Chief Minister also appealed the people to donate generously to the fund to fight against the novel coronavirus.

Manipur

  • The state government of Manipur shuts its border with neighbouring country Myanmar. The steps have been taken amid the novel coronavirus scare.
  • The Manipur Health department had deployed medical officers in Indo-Myanmar border towns of Moreh and Behiang to screen any person — both foreigners and Indians – coming to India.

Meghalaya

  • Home Delivery of Essential Commodities
  • Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma appealed the citizens to act responsibly as the Prime Minister announced of 21 days lockdown.
  • The Corona Stop, Corona Out song has been produced by the State Government to create awareness.
  • Action will be taken against black marketing or selling masks at high prices.
  • As the state’s preparedness in the wake of the coronavirus threat, Meghalaya government decided to restrict the entry of people into the state.

Mizoram

  • The Mizoram Epidemic (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020’ was rolled out and extended to the whole of the state, an official said.
  • According to the regulations, any person, who returned from coronavirus affected states and countries in the past 28 days, must report to screening points and will have to put under home quarantine or isolated at a designated isolation facility.
  • During the isolation period, the person must strictly follow the government regulations and call state helpline number in case he has a health complaint, the statement said.
  • According to the set of regulations, no private laboratories are authorised to take or test samples for coronavirus and the government will set up sample collection centres as circumstance demands.
  • State health minister Dr R Lalthangliana also informed that efforts are on to procure more coronavirus test kits.
  • The Lengpui tourist lodge and Zokhawthar village on Mizoram-Myanmar border have been designated isolation facilities.

Sikkim

  • Two Sikkim government banned the entry of foreigners to check the spread of coronavirus.
  • Trade with China conducted through Nathu La in Sikkim has been suspended and all check posts in the hill state reinforced with additional manpower for screening visitors to the border areas.

Nagaland

  • To help prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Home department of Nagaland has mandated the use of face masks and hand sanitisers in all the public places.
  • The TB hospital at Khuzama village was identified as an isolation ward

Arunachal Pradesh

  • The Arunachal Pradesh government has announced a lockdown.
  • No public transport services, including operation of taxis, auto-rickshaws, will be permitted.
  • All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops shall also shut their operations.
  • People are required to stay at home and carry out only essential services while strictly following social distancing guidelines, the chief secretary said.
  • Supplies of foodgrains, groceries, vegetable, fruits, meat, fish, bread, milk, medical services, pharmacies have been exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

Tripura

  • Four quarantine facilities have been set up by the government and private hospitals in the state so far, which can house 130 patients at a time.
  • The state government has also warned people against spreading false information regarding Covid-19 and said those found involved in such activities would be strictly dealt with.
  • The Tripura Assembly curtailed its five-day budget session to just two days and adjourned sine die on Monday after approving the budget.

Goa

  • Goa Church advised Catholics not to attend Sunday mass and other services because of the coronavirus.
  • Borders are sealed for the entry of all types of passenger vehicles coming through Maharashtra and Karnataka
  • All those who plan to travel to Goa are requested to postpone travel plans until normalcy returns.
  • The CM said the registrar has been told to postpone the registration of deeds, documents and marriages

State governments and Uts are running various welfare schemes for the poor in this crisis. The Union government is ready to provide all kinds of help at the moment so that nobody should face any difficulty in the wake of the deadly Covid-19 outbreak.

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