Ina move towards helping needy people in the national capital amid lockdownimposed across the city, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesdayannounced free ration for the next two months to 72 lakh ration card holders.
Kejriwal,however, clarified "it doesn't mean that the lockdown will continue forthe next two months", expressing hope that the restrictions will be liftedsoon after the Covid cases reduced.
TheAam Aadmi Party's (AAP) national convenor also announced an economic support ofRs 5,000 each to all the auto and taxi drivers in the national capital whoseincome has suddenly stopped since the lockdown was imposed in the city.
Underthe Delhi government's move, Kejriwal said a total of 1,56,000 drivers will becovered. "These are those drivers who were provided a similar amountduring the lockdown imposed for the first time in Delhi."
TheChief Minister said the amount, however, will not be sufficient for the driversbut "it will surely help them economically during the crisis".
Kejriwalmade it clear that the lockdown was necessary to contain the spread of thedeadly virus which on an average has been infecting around 25,000 people on adaily basis for the last few days.
However,the latest Covid figure received on Monday evening showed that a total of18,043 people were infected till then, including 448 deaths, in the nationalcapital. A total of 12,12,989 people cumulatively have been infected with theCovid so far. Of them, 17,414 people have lost their lives so far.
Mentioningthat lockdown specially hit the poor, Kejriwal said the government recentlyprovided Rs 5,000 to the bank accounts of several labourers to support themeconomically during the crucial period.
Thelockdown in Delhi will continue till 5 a.m. on May 10 as per the latest orderof the Delhi government.