Uddhav Thackeray urges PM Modi to declare COVID-19 a 'natural calamity'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who had, on Wednesday, wrote to the Centre saying the number of active caseload of COVID-19 in the state is expected to double in the next 15 days, on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the pandemic a "natural calamity."

In a letter to the prime minister, Thackeray also requested that the first installment of the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) may be released to Maharashtra to "tide over the financial situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic." 

"In view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the state, a mini-lockdown is a necessity. COVID-19 pandemic may be notified as a natural calamity under the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Accordingly, the state may be allowed to pay Gratuitous Relief of ₹ 100 per adult per day and ₹ 60 per child per day during lockdown to all  Antodaya Anna Yojana (AYY) and Priority Household (PHH) family members whose name are included in the AAY and PHH ration cards. They are the ones whose livelihood are seriously affected by due to lockdown," the CM said in his letter.

Noting that small-scale industries, businesses and start-ups have taken bank loans under different GOI schemes "and have supported the country in becoming Atmanirbhar in various sectors," the letter further said, “These today are reeling under the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on many economic activities...Given this scenario, we must come out with a helping hand for their survival. It is thus requested that banks may be asked to defer the installments that are becoming due at least in the first quarter of the current financial year may be postponed without interest."