Com. Elamaram Kareem represents the CPI(M) in video conference with the Prime Minister

In a video conference with the Prime Minister, Elamaram Kareem demanded an assurance that after the lockdown imposed because of Covid-19 there will be no job losses, no wage cuts and no dismissals in any sector. He reminded the Prime Minister that the lockdown, imposed by the central government very suddenly and without adequate preparation despite having two months' time, created great panic among the people and led to a mass exodus of migrant workers. Com. Elamaram Kareem spoke for the CPI(M) on various issues affecting the people of the country in today's video conference, which the Prime Minister held with the parliamentary party leaders of various parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as part of reviewing Covid prevention work. He raised various issues affecting the country and Kerala during this pandemic.

Crores of daily wage workers and agricultural workers are starving because of the lockdown. At least Rs 5,000 must be deposited in their Jan Dhan accounts immediately.

Migrant workers and poor sections must be given 35 kg of food grains free.

Harvesting of crops must be declared an essential service.

It must be ensured that after the lockdown there are no job losses, no wage cuts and no dismissals in any sector.

Urgent attention must be paid to agriculture.

Farm loans must be written off.

Proper steps must be taken to prevent black marketing and hoarding.

Essential goods must be distributed as needed.

Health care must be ensured for migrant workers who have fled to various parts of the country.

The necessary quarantine facilities must be set up.

Protective equipment must be ensured for health workers.

The borrowing limit of state governments must be raised.

Kerala's GST dues of Rs 3,000 crore must be paid immediately.

There are many thousands of expatriates from Kerala living in labour camps in the Gulf countries, where they cannot keep social distance. This problem must be resolved in consultation with the Gulf authorities.

In its affidavit to the Supreme Court, the central government said there are 22,567 relief camps in the country, 15,541 of them (68.8%) in Kerala,

and that 6,31,119 people are under observation in isolation, 3,02,016 of them (47.9%) in Kerala.

But of the Rs 11,092 crore the Centre has given the states in all, Kerala received only Rs 157 crore (1.4%).

He asked the Prime Minister for urgent intervention on this along with the other issues.

He assured the Prime Minister that the CPI(M) would fully support all the central government's efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.