New Delhi, Mar 30 (IANS): Amid exodus of migrant population, former finance minister P. Chidambaram on Monday termed the financial assistance package announced by the government "miserable".

The Centre has announced a package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore for assistance to those affected due to nationwide lockdown.

Chidambaram tweeted: "The FM's FAP was so miserly and inadequate, it actually promoted many to go back to their villages."

The former Union Minister has demanded that government should announce bold financial assistance package. "I urge the government to announce a bold FAP II today or tomorrow," tweeted Chidambaram.

The Congress leader said that the exodus is because of no pre-planning by the government and it was "tragic" to announce the lockdown in 4-hour notice.

"It is now conclusively established that the lockdown was declared and enforced in 4 hours without any preparation whatsoever. Tragic," he said.

"A confidence boosting financial assistance plan should have been announced either before or simultaneously with the announcement of lockdown." said Chidambaram.

The Centre on Sunday constituted 11 empowered groups for planning and ensuring implementation of Covid-19 response activities.

Each group will be handled by senior government officials who have been empowered to identify the problem areas and provide effective solutions, delineate policy, formulate plans, strategize operations and take all necessary steps for effective and time-bound implementation of these plans, policies, strategies, decisions in their respective areas.