COVID-19: WHO chief praises PM Modi's efforts to help the poor

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised PM Modi for announcing relief package that provided food rations, cash transfers and free cooking gas to the poor.

New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping the poor and the vulnerable people of the society during the 21-day lockdown.

In a tweet, Ghebreyesus said he applauds PM Modi's Rs 1.70 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan package to help the needy in such tough times.

• My appreciation to Prime Minister @narendramodi for announcing a $24 billion package to support 🇮🇳's vulnerable populations during #COVID19 crisis, including:
  -free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people
  -cash transfers to 204M poor women
  -free cooking gas for 80M households.

  — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  My appreciation to Prime Minister @narendramodi for announcing a $24 billion package to support 🇮🇳's vulnerable populations during #COVID19 crisis, including:
  -free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people
  -cash transfers to 204M poor women
  -free cooking gas for 80M households.

  — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020

  ">

  My appreciation to Prime Minister @narendramodi for announcing a $24 billion package to support 🇮🇳's vulnerable populations during #COVID19 crisis, including:
  -free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people
  -cash transfers to 204M poor women
  -free cooking gas for 80M households.

  — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020

"My appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing a $24 billion package to support Flag of India's vulnerable populations during COVID19 crisis," tweeted Ghebreyesus.

This includes "free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people; cash transfers to 204M poor women, free cooking gas for 80M households," Ghebreyesus added. The Finance Minister on March 26 announced economic stimulus to deal with the impact of coronavirus lockdown."

Countries are asking ppl to #stayhome & shutting down population movement to limit #COVID19 transmission. These steps can have unintended consequences for the poorest & most vulnerable. I call on countries to ensure these populations have food & life essentials during the crisis," said Ghebreyesus.

The Indian government is set to disburse Rs 27,500 crore financial package under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana this week and the coming weeks.

(IANS)