Sikkim Announces Rs 3000 Monthly Incentives for 'Corona Warrior' Government Servants

Gangtok, March 27, 2020:

Sikkim has announced a one-time incentive of Rs 3,000, as a token of gratitude, for all the Government employees, who have been tirelessly serving amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Sikkim Police personnel, those of State Health and Family Welfare department, Transport department and Urban Development department will get the one-time monetary incentive by the Government.

"With a view to provide incentive to the State Government employees who are working tirelessly to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the State, the State Government is hereby pleased to announce a one-time lump-sum monetary incentive of Rs. 3000/-..." read an official notification.

The Sikkim Government has broadly selected the four departments, whose officials had been serving by risking their lives at an hour of pandemic.

Sikkim Police personnel who are actively engaged in screening and maintaining law and order for the prevention of Covid-19 will avail this incentive.

All the workers of the Health and Family Welfare department posted in the Hospitals and Check Posts and engaged in screening and prevention of Covid-19 will get this incentive.

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The monetary benefit will also be provided to all the truck drivers engaged in emergency duty for transportation of essential commodities and to all the cleaners or "safai karamcharis" on duty during the lockdown period.

The Sikkim Government has additionally announced relief package for the needy during the lockdown period.

"Free ration shall be provided to the needy families in rural areas (over and above their PDS entitlement)... subject to the family not having any member working in the Government/Public sector including temporary, muster roll or adhoc employees," stated a notification.

Families with three or members will be provided with 20 kgs rice, 5 kgs dal, 5 litres cooking oil 7 kgs potatoes and 2 kgs of onions. The families having two or fewer members will get the half of the former.

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The Sikkim Government has directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department and Sikkim State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation ltd. (SIMFED) to ensure that the food packets reach the beneficiaries on time.

It may be mentioned here that the package covers the "daily wagers, migrant, casual or construction site workers, hawkers and others stranded in need of immediate succour, whether in bazaar area or rural areas."

Further, the Sikkim Government, in its notification, stated, "As per government of India directions, all manufacturing units engaged in production of essential commodities and industries having continuous processing are not covered by the lockdown order. In order to mitigate the hardship of workers, the Commerce and Industries Department may issue advisory to all the pharmaceutical units operating in the state and also the Temi Tea, to provide an additional incentive wages of Rs 300 per day to all the workers who report for work during the lockdown period."

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