Thane, Mar 29 (UNI) As Maharashtra has emerged as the worst-hit COVID-19 state, the pandemic has not only proved to be a severe health problem, but also an economic scourge for the lower income groups, specifically the daily wagers.
Addressing the citizens on Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reiterated that the people, who were into the labour sector, should not take arduous migration journeys to their natives, as the crisis has blighted their livelihood prospects.
He assured that the government has taken up the responsibility for providing them food and accommodation.
Despite the government's relentless efforts to provide relief to such people, scores of them are reeling under the woes of Novel Coronavirus, which has inflicted hunger and penury on them.
Former Minister Ravindra Chavan and government's tribal committee chairman Vivek Pandit highlighted the plight of such people, and asked the government to take immediate steps for their assistance.
BJP leader Chavan on Saturday penned a letter to the Chief Minister, seeking speedy distribution of cost-free foodgrains through the PDS in Konkan region.
Also addressed to the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, the letter read aloud the misery faced by the Konkan inhabitants during this health emergency hence, the letter urged, the government should immediately dole out the promised aid.
Founded by Mr Pandit, Shramajivi Sanghatana is an organization working for the upliftment of the tribals in the State.
The Sanghatana volunteers toured several hamlets in Thane and Palghar districts and proclaimed that the tribals are writhing out of hunger.
Mr Pandit and Sanghatana General Secretary Vijay Jadhav today said that these tribals eke their livelihood on a daily basis but the prevailing crisis has left them in dire straits.
Mr Pandit told that his outfit did their bit by arranging food and medical assistance in few villages however the help is yet to reach other places.
He expressed fear that if this situation continues and the administration fails to pay attention then lakhs of tribals are sure to die of starvation.
At a time when people are facing lack of essentials, the vendors in Vasai suburb threw away their vegetables on roads, so as to protest against the civic body, which shifted them from their usual place of doing business.
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