The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday, 16 May launched an online portal to facilitate the movement of migrant labourers across the country. The dashboard is to ensure better coordination, movement and contact tracing.
Earlier today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressing the fourth press briefing on the 20 lakh crore economic package announced under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. She announced a slew of structural reforms in eight sectors.
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 85,940 on Saturday, 16 May, according to the Health Ministry. There are now 53,035 active cases across the country, while 2,752 people have died. As many as 30,152 patients have been cured or discharged and one has left the country.
- Six migrant workers were killed in a road accident near Madhya Pradesh’s Banda (Sagar district) on Saturday
- In another incident, 24 migrants died and many injured after a truck they were travelling in collided with another truck in UP’s Auraiya
- The Bengal govt said on Saturday that it would bear the entire cost of movement for their migrant workers by special trains from other states to West Bengal
- Mizoram has extended the lockdown till 31 May to check spread of coronavirus, PTI reported on Friday, 15 May, quoting an official
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
Punjab Extends Lockdown Till 31 May
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has announced replacement of the strict curfew with a lockdown till May 31 in the state, while indicating resumption of limited public transport and maximum possible relaxations in non-containment zones from 18 May, reported ANI.
Rahul Gandhi Speaks to Migrants on Streets of Delhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the migrants, who were walking on Sukdev Vihar flyover to return home, in Delhi.
Reforms Announced Today With Contribute to Economic Transformation: PM Modi
Hailing the structural reforms announced by the finance minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that these reforms will help create business opportunities and ‘contribute to economic transformation’.
FDI in Defence Manufacturing Raised From 49% to 74%: FM
Finance Minister Sitharaman also announced that the Foreign Direct Investment limit in defence manufacturing under automatic route is being raised from 49 percent to 74 percent.
The government has also decided to stop the import of of some weapons.
“Make In India for self-reliance in defence production – we will notify a list of weapons/platforms for ban on import with year wise timelines. There will be indigenisation of imported spares,” she added.