Full Statement of Congress Working Committee

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Full Statement of Congress Working Committee

I. The last CWC Meeting (April 2nd, 2020) discussed key challenges and necessary measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The CWC had identified key issues and classified them under four distinct heads; (1) Containment & Treatment; (2) Livelihood Support; (3) Maintenance of Supplies; and (4) Economic Revival.

The CWC notes with concern that while some issues have been acknowledged partially by the Government, others continue to languish. Furthermore, in the three weeks since, these issues have become complicated due to the failure to address them in a timely and effective manner.

On these four issues, certain crucial insights have also emerged. The fight against Covid-19 is being fought at the state, district, city and village level. States, therefore, must be empowered to devise solutions tailored to their unique situations and challenges. The fight must be bottom-up instead of the top-down, one size fits all policy currently on display. The Central Government can vastly bolster the states’ efforts by providing them with adequate financial support starting with releasing their full share of the Goods and Services Tax collected so far and allowing them greater fiscal space to borrow.

II. In light of the above, the CWC wishes to draw the attention of the Central Government to the following urgent issues;

Livelihood of the poor:
There is enough evidence that the poor have run out of cash or are on the verge of running out of cash. They do not have stocks of grain or pulses at home. Providing free cooked food to millions of families every day through NGOs, though laudable, is not a solution even in normal times. The CWC reiterates the suggestions made by the Congress President to the Prime Minister that government should immediately give Rs 7,500 (through direct benefit transfer) to every poor family and 10 kg of food grain (rice or wheat) and 1 kg of pulses and sugar to every individual to help them tide over the period of the lockdown. It also makes eminent sense to ensure that MGNREGA is kept operative and wages are disbursed to families to help them cope with the prevailing atmosphere of economic insecurity. This is the only way to save the people from hunger and malnutrition. It is also essential to secure their dignity.

Migrant Workers:

The nation has witnessed the plight of our migrant workers in the major cities and towns. Several of them travelled hundreds of kilometres on foot without food, medicines or any kind of support until they were forced to stop and were quarantined. Chief Ministers have written to the Prime Minister pointing out the growing pressure from the migrant workers (and their families in the home states) that they be allowed to return to their home states/villages. The Government has been aware of this problem for over three weeks and has ten more days to frame a humane policy on migrant workers. The CWC draws the attention of the Central Government to the necessity of framing a policy under which migrant workers who wish to return to their home states/villages (1) may be allowed to travel  under strict conditions of health safety, (2) be provided with adequate money and food  in the interim; (3) be allowed to return to work post the lockdown (4) compensation for the families of those migrant workers who have lost their lives in this period of crisis.

Revival of the Economy:

The CWC notes with regret that the Economic Task Force announced by the Prime Minister a month ago does not appear to have yet presented a plan to the Government. Furthermore, no concrete steps to revive the economy have been taken.

Agriculture activities, despite being given an exemption from the lockdown, continue to face insurmountable challenges of harvesting, marketing and of a near-collapse of the system of procurement of wheat and other Rabi crops at MSP. Besides, no steps have has been taken to ensure access to easy credit, seeds, pesticides, fertilizers or other implements to enable the farmers to sow the next Kharif Crop.

There has been an ominous silence on the CWC recommendations for the revival of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises that employ over 11 crore Indians and contribute to a third of our nation’s GDP. If MSME’s are to survive this crisis, they need working capital, credit assurance, debt moratoriums, lower interest rates, regulatory forbearance and wage support to protect their employees.

In fact, the CWC strongly recommends a complete loan moratorium on agricultural and other loans for a period of at least one year along with complete interest subvention.

Testing and Quarantine:

It is tragic that we are still lagging behind in establishing a robust and accurate testing regime. Testing, Tracing, Quarantine and Treatment are crucial to containing the disease. Furthermore, while we welcome the legislation to protect Doctors and other medical personnel from violence, we ask the Government to take more meaningful steps such as providing adequate PPE’s to doctors and other frontline workers along with better testing equipment. This is a time for innovation to be given free reign and full support.
Furthermore, a large number of Indians are stranded abroad waiting to return home and join their families. Onus lies on the Government of India to ensure their safe return, after adequate testing, by operating special flights for that limited purpose.

Communal Harmony to fight Covid-19:
CWC notes with concern that the BJP is seeking to inflame communal divisions even as the entire nation battles Covid-19. The virus does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, religion or gender. As a nation we must be wary of forces that seek to polarise in times of crisis such as these. The onus lies on us to ensure that we stand together as one nation in the face of all odds.

III. In the light of the above, the CWC demands the utilisation of the remaining lockdown period for the preparation and publication of a detailed ‘Exit Strategy’ and a comprehensive ‘Road-Map’ for the future:

1. To substantially increase health infrastructure capacity to deal with the  pandemic;
and
2. To revive the economy and protect current levels of employment and wages/income.

The CWC also takes this opportunity to thank the Congress workers and our frontal organisations who have worked tirelessly to serve the people of India in this difficult time. We hope that the Government will consider these suggestions in the spirit with which they are made- constructive support to the government and unstinting support to the people of India, so that the country and the people emerge  victorious in the battle against COVID-19.

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