the goan I network
PANAJI
The obscurity of the most recent order of the Union Home Ministry (MHA) further easing the lockdown is expected to be cleared during deliberations Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to hold with Chief Ministers in a video-conferencing meet on Monday.
The third such interaction with chief ministers since the country launched a nationwide battle to keep the Coronavirus pandemic at bay in mid-March, holds much promise for Goa which is struggling to come up with a plausible plan to repatriate its approximately 8,000 seafarers.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is expected to raise the issue of the seafarers stranded in distress amid the pandemic onboard ships and cruise liners docked at ports across the globe, particularly in COVID-19 endemic countries in Europe and the United States.
The chief ministers video conference with the Prime Minister could also touch upon the Centre's devolution of funds and special financial packages to the States specific to the pandemic.
It could be crucial to Goa which has been facing a tight financial position in recent years owing to the distress in two of its prime sectors -- iron ore mining due to a ban and tourism facing negative global headwinds.
Monday's deliberations between Modi and the chief
ministers is also expected to set broad contours for a phase-wise lifting of the lockdown from May 3 onwards.
The nation has been forced into a lockdown since March 25 which has paralysed industrial and most commercial activity dealing a body blow to the economy of States as well as that of the country.
The Centre and the state governments have been giving gradual relaxation in various fields and sectors to boost economic activities as also to provide relief to people.
