The Assam unit of the Indian Youth Congress has for the second day running distributed Rs 200 to the Covid-hit poor and needy in several districts on Friday, a move aimed at piling pressure on Delhi and Dispur to provide direct cash benefit to those in distress.
The Congress has been seeking the implementation of its proposed minimum income guarantee scheme, popularly known as Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay), which it had flagged before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, to help the needy tide over the corona crisis.
The scheme envisages Rs 72,000 annually to 20 per cent of India’s poorest families through direct bank transfer.
Taking this initiative forward, the Assam unit on Friday distributed Rs 200 in cash to 500 needy and poor families in Kamrup, Kamrup (metro), Dhemaji and Dhubri districts so they could cope with the adverse impact of Covid on life and livelihood.
AYC general secretary Suman Kalyan Bora told The Telegraph that they will directly help the needy in 33 districts “as far as possible”, while thanking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, IYC president Srinivas B.V. and state Youth Congress president Kamrul Islam Chaudhury for relentlessly pushing the pro-poor scheme.
The move was launched on Thursday to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
“We covered Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Tinsukia and Cachar on Thursday. It is time the Centre and state government also give nyay (justice) to the needy hard hit by Covid,” Bora said.
