New Delhi, April 20 : The Delhi government has under its initiative to give a one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000 each to para-transit drivers has given such amount to around 23,000 auto, e-rickshaw, gramin seva drivers after due verification by Monday. According to the Transport Department, more than 1,60,000 applications were received online in a week for the assitance and the process is still on. "This amount is being given to compensate for the losses they (drivers) suffered due to the lockdown," the department said in a statement. "The verification of 20,000 additional forms was also being done," it said. The fund transfer to the bank accounts of these drivers started last week, it said. "The funds are being transferred only after checking the bank account details linked with the Aadhaar cards," it added. The passenger transport services in Delhi have been stopped to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions are in force since the announcement of the lockdown. Consequently, a large number of persons -- including the drivers of public service vehicles -- have been rendered jobless. To help them, the Delhi government had announced that one-time financial help of Rs 5,000 to the drivers of the paratransit vehicles -- auto rickshaws, taxis, Gramin Sewa, Phatphat Sewa, Maxi Cab, Eco-Friendly Sewa, E-Rickshaws and School Cabs. /IANS