Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said Tuesday that the state government had banned the celebration of religious festivals in public places, including Vinayak Chaturthi, to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Stalin responded to Nainar Nagendran, a BJP lawmaker, in the Assembly by saying that the Covid-19 infection had increased in Kerala because they allowed large gatherings of people during Bakrid and Onam.
Covid-19 is still a pandemic in Tamil Nadu. Therefore, public religious celebrations are prohibited until September 15.
Stalin stated that the government would pay Rs 5,000-12,000 to compensate potters who could not continue their work during the rainy season.
About 3,000 of these workers make Ganesh or Vinayak idols from clay during festival times. Their livelihoods have been severely affected by the Covid-19 ban against public celebrations.
Stalin stated that, taking this into account, the government would pay Rs 5,000 to the rainy season compensation fund and Rs 5,000 more to the workers.