National
Congress President Deuba demands relief package for poor, protective equipment for health workers
In a statement on Friday, the leader of the opposition said that such a package should target citizens who depend on their daily wages.Tika R Pradhan
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has called on the government to announce an economic relief package for poor people affected by the nationwide lockdown, and disburse money at the earliest.
In a statement on Friday, the leader of the opposition said that such a package should target citizens who depend on their daily wages.
“This lockdown has affected those who depend on their daily wages the most,” said Deuba, in a statement.
He has also demanded an appropriate relief package for lower ranked civil servants, labourers, unemployed youths and students who have come to Kathmandu for their studies.
The former prime minister has also demanded that the government make provisions so that small-scale entrepreneurs who have loans up to Rs 2 million don’t have to service their debt for some time and face a lower rate in the future.
For bigger businesses, Deuba has appealed to the government to slash interest rates and allow them a three-month extension on deadlines to pay loan installments.
He has also demanded that the government provide a relief package to the media and journalists as they have been facing difficulties due to the crisis.
Deuba has expressed serious concerns over the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) even one month after the World Health Organization warned member states to exercise caution over the coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s a matter of shame that the government has failed to provide PPE to the health workers,” said Deuba. “I appeal to the government to arrange necessary PPEs, test kits, isolation wards and ventilators at the earliest.”