Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an economic package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore that will help the poor, migrant workers, farmers, widows, the specially-abled and construction labourers, under Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana project
Bengaluru: Under pressure from various quarters to announce a relief package to handle the financial challenges owing to the coronavirus spread, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her deputy Anurag Thakur announced a slew of measures under Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana project.
The economic package of Rs 1.70 lakh crore will help the poor, migrant workers, farmers, widows, the specially-abled and construction labourers.
First on the list is a Rs 50 lakh insurance cover per person for doctors, paramedic, healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak for three months.
We break down on the different aspects of the relief measures.
PM Garib Anna Yojna:
Each poor will get 5 kg grains per person per month for the next three months for free, one kg of pulses for each household for free. This will be over and above the current 5 kg they get under NFSA.
Cash transfer based on DBT:
Farmers who get Rs 6,000 annually under PM-Kisan will get first installment of Rs 2,000 in addition which will be given immediately in the first week of April.
Jan Dhan Yojana account holders:
These holders will be given an additional amount of Rs 500 for the next three months.
Gas cylinders:
Free replacement of gas cylinders for all Ujwala gas subsidy scheme beneficiaries (Over 8.3 crore) for three months.
For the organized sector:
Govt of India will pay the EPF contribution both of the employer and employee (12% each) for the next 3 months.
FM said, “This is only for those establishments which have up to 100 employees, where 90% of employees earning less than Rs 15000 per month.”
Construction workers:
Additionally, she said, “Directions will be given to State Governments to utilize the amount of Rs 31,000 crores lying in the Building and Construction Workers Welfare fund to help 3.5 crore registered workers.”
Mineral workers:
The FM said that directions will be given to state governments to utilize the funds under the District Mineral Workers fund.
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