The Province 2 government has come up with a relief package targeting the most-affected groups due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19.

An all-party meeting called by the Province 2 government on Sunday morning decided to roll out a food relief package for the families affected by the lockdown, Shailendra Prasad Shah, minister of land management, agriculture and cooperatives, said.

“We have been coming across grievances regarding the poor and daily wage workers who have been struggling for basic necessities like food during the ongoing lockdown,” Shah told the Post. “Since there is a possibility of the lockdown extending further, these people will be hit even harder. So we have announced this relief package for them.”

Shah said the success of effective lockdown also depended on how these groups, who have to work every day to make their ends meet, were taken care of by the state.

As per the relief plan, the local levels in the province will get funds to provide food items to the vulnerable families in their areas.
The meeting has announced to provide Rs 2.5 million for metropolitan city, Rs 2 million for sub-metropolitan city, Rs 1.5 million for municipality and Rs 1 million for rural municipality to feed the poor and the vulnerable during the lockdown period.

“The funds have been allocated and the required working procedures for effective distribution of the relief packages through local level governments, political party representatives, humanitarian organisations will be prepared by this evening,” Shah said. “The team will also collect data of the recipient families.”

The Province 2 government said the initial relief package was only for the distribution of food items and it might come up with larger relief plans for other groups as well.

“Everyone has been affected due to the ongoing crisis, but their level of struggle is varied. Poor people are scrambling for food. Even business owners are saying that their businesses have been completely halted because of the lockdown,” Shah said. “For now, we are helping those who need help the most. We are discussing a broader package that will cater to everyone.”