Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Saturday that during the present coronavirus pandemic, up to 80 crore Indians received free rations. Among them are five crore individuals from Madhya Pradesh, Modi said during a video chat with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in the state.
Modi described the coronavirus epidemic as humanity’s worst catastrophe in the last 100 years, adding that people should continue to wear masks, wash their hands, and keep social distance to prevent the virus from spreading.
“India gave the first priority to the poor, in its strategy to combat the crisis due to coronavirus. Be it Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana, we thought about food and employment of the poor from day one itself,” he said.
Stressing his government’s ‘vocal for local’ initiative, Modi said Indians should buy handicraft items during the festival season to encourage those working in this sector.
