Chief Minister Vijay Rupani appeals to people donate to CM Relief Fund

In the wake of 21-day countrywide lockdown to prevent spread of novel coronavirus, Gujarat Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani arranged for transportation of over 10,000 stranded labourers and workers stranded in various parts of the state to their native places.

Since the public and private passenger transport system has also been suspended during this lockdown, the government arranged for the passage of 1,800 tourists and pilgrims and of Gujarat stranded in Nepal, Haridwar and other places by 28 buses back to Gujarat, following Mr. Rupani’s interaction with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fetilisers Mansukh Mandaviya.

According to Chief Minister’s Secretary Ashwini Kumar, all these travellers on their entry into the Gujarat borders in Aravalli district to be medically checked up and then transported to their respective placces in the state.

Even though the Chief Minister had appealed to migrant workers and labourers engaged in farm and factories of the state to stay put at their place of work, around 10,000 such workers were on Friday night on their way on foot to their native places in interior places in Gujarat and to other states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He directed the district administrations to arrange for their transportation by buses.

Mr. Kumar appealed to the remaining such migrant workers to stay back near their place of work, as the government in collaboration with voluntary organisations arranged distribution of food packets, about 2.82 lakh food packets till now.

As part of the government’s measures to maintain sustained supply of essential commodities of daily needs on the 4th day of the lockdown, he said 255 lakh litres of liquid milk and 42.40 lakh litres in pouch and 40,000 litres in tetra packs were sold in the state.

In all 72 wholesale vegetable markets in the state working on Saturday received 1,29,000 quintals of vegetables, an increase of over 45,000 quintals from 85,113 quintals on Friday. The fruits arrival also increased by 700 quintals from 4,832 quintals yesterday to 5,585 quintals today morning.

Over 96,000 licences have been issued to retailers, handcart pullers and hawkers to maintain supply chain.

The state level Control Room Helpline-1077 received 477 calls and district level control rooms Helpline-1077 received 1,727 calls so far.

Mr. Kumar said that in response to Mr. Rupani’s appeal for large-hearted donations to tide over the global pandemic the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund so far received Rs.12.85-crore donation, including Rs.5-crore from Adani Foundations’ Pritiben Adani, Rs.1.01-crore from Ashasuri Ambaji Mata Devsthan Trust, Rs.1-crore from Gujarat State Seeds Corporation, Rs.51-lakh from Rajkot’s Mukeshbhai Sheth and Rs.51-lakh from Khodaldham Trust’s Dinesh Kumbhani, Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna SMVS Ganadhinagar Rs.21-lakh, noted singer Jignesh Kumar Rs.5.55-lakh. These donations are exepmted from Section 80G of Income-Tax.

Food & Civil Supplies Secretary Mohammad Shahid was also present on the occasion.

Chief Minister has called for providing TV sets, ACs and fridges at the isolation ward to destress persons.