Jaipur, May 12 (IANS): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday suggested to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that an employment guarantee scheme for urban areas on the lines of the MGNREGS be considered and also sought that the state governments should be allowed on decide on corona zones independently.

Taking part in a video conference meet of all Chief Ministers with the Prime Minister, he said that the daily wagers have been hit hard by the lockdown and the Centre should therefore come up with an employment generation scheme for the urban poor.

Gehlot also requested the PM to provide employment for at least 200 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS).

"We need to fight the battle on two fronts, one to save lives during the corona crisis and other to bring the economy back on track. it is impossible for states to fight this challenge on its own without receiving financial help from the Centre."

The Central government should release a financial package at the earliest to help the manufacturing, tourism, service and real estate sectors revive during tough times, he demanded.

The Chief Minister also said states should be given powers to decide on the coronavirus zones. "The states should be given powers to select segments which should be restricted and the others to stay opened," he said.

The Rajasthan CM further said the state' buying capacity should be increased which will in return trigger demand and revive economy.