By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 2, 2020: Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 19 crore for the urban street vendors, who have been seriously affected by the lockdown following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Street vendors have been eking out their livelihood by selling goods including plastic products, readymade dresses, footwear, toys and many more commodities. The lockdown has forced these vendors to stay back in their homes without any income for survival.

Keeping this in mind, the Odisha government has distributed funds to 2577 street vendors as cash assistance of Rs 3000 each. So far, Rs 77,31,000 has been distributed in 14 Urban Local bodies.

Around 65000 vendors will benefit from this initiative.

The announcement of lockdown, without any breathing space, has put a vast majority of the population ina piquant situation. With limited relief measures announced by the state government and the uncertainty remaining days after the relief measures are announced have created panic among the public.