Chennai: Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has allocated Rs 50 crore from the CM’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) for purchase of Remdevisir drug, for treating Covid patients, and oxygen containers to transport oxygen from other States through trains.
An official release here said, so far Rs 69 crore had been received as contributions towards Covid relief to the CMPRF. This included Rs 29.44 crore via online and Rs 39.56 crore in person.
Thanking all those who have contributed generously towards Covid relief, Stalin, as promised that these funds would be utilised only for Covid relief measures, allocated Rs 25 crore for procuring Remdisivir and other life saving drugs to be given to the Government Hospitals and another Rs 25 crore for purchase of oxygen containers to transport oxygen from other States by train.
Meanwhile, Stalin announced that 2.14 lakh new rice ration cardholders will also be given the first installment of Rs 2,000 of the Rs 4,000 Covid financial assistance scheme this month.
An official release said a total of 2,14,940 new rice ration cardholders will also be extended Rs 2,000 assistance involving an expenditure of Rs 42.99 crore to sustain their livelihood.
Stalin’s announcement extending the assistance to the new cardholders comes a week after he launched the scheme for all ration cardholders in the State at the State Secretariat on 10 May, fulfilling one of the promises made in the DMK election manifesto.
Soon after assuming office on 7 May, launching of this scheme, was one of the five files signed by Stalin.
Earlier, during the elections Stalin said the scheme would be launched in June to mark late DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary.
However, citing the hardship faced by the people due to second wave of COVID, he said Rs 2,000 would be given as first instalment this month itself and the second installment next month.
The scheme will benefit 2.07 crore rice cardholders in the State involving an outlay of Rs 4,153.39 crore.
It was now extended to the new cardholders also and they would get the asssitance this month itself, the release said.