COVID-19 | Rs 1k to be given to BPL card holders in Arunachal: CM

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 each to all the below poverty line (BPL) ration card holders of the state in wake of the nationwide lockdown over coronavirus pandemic .

In his address to the people of the state on Wednesday, Khandu assured that the salary of all the state government employees, irrespective of regular or contingency, would be duly paid during the lockdown.

He said that the government has also issued a notification requesting all the private companies to follow a similar measure.

Further appealing the people to stay at their homes, the chief minister assured that the state government would make available all the essential commodities to the public.

“This fight against coronavirus can only be won if we remain inside our homes,” he said.

He said the government is strictly monitoring all the measures related to COVID 19 and chief secretary Naresh Kumar is in constant touch with the deputy commissioners of all the districts.

“All necessary medical equipments for the protection of health workers like personal protective equipment kits, gloves, masks, hand sanitizers and infrared thermometers have been dispatched in all the districts,” Khandu said.

Meanwhile, day 1 of the nationwide lockdown was more or less effective in Arunachal, especially in state capital Itanagar as the movement of vehicles and pedestrians remained less compared to that of the statewide lockdown on Tuesday.

The vehicles, which were seen plying on the road, were mostly those of police personnel and essential services workers.

The health department informed that a total of six samples were sent to Guwahati for COVID-19 testing and they were all negative.