Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced COVID-19 outbreak relief package of Rs. 1.7 lakh crore. This package is aimed at providing relief to vulnerable section of society viz. farmers, labourer, poor household, poor women, disabled, and old. Apart from them, health workers and organized sector employees have also been given relief in this package.
This economic stimulus is finalized to deal with impact of coronavirus lockdown.
– FINANCE MINISTER NIRMALA SITHARAMAN
Announcements made during press conference:
50L Health Insurance to COVID warriors
All health workers dealing with COVID-19 including doctors, paramedic, nurses, asha workers, will be covered under Rs. 50 Lakhs health insurance scheme.
15 kg grains and 3 kg pulse to 80 cr. poors
Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Yojna, each poor will get 5 kg grains per person per month and one kg of pulses for each household for free for the next three months. This will be over and above the current 5 kg they get under National Food Security Act. It will be given through regular PDS to 80 crore people in two installments.
Rs. 2000 of PM-Kishan in April to farmers
In the first week of April, 8.69 crore farmers who get Rs 6,000 annually under PM-Kisan will get first installment of Rs 2,000.
Rs 1000 to 3 crore vulnerable
An ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 to 3 cr poor senior citizen, poor widows and poor disabled to be given.
MNREGA wage hike from Rs. 202 to Rs. 182
MNREGA wage has been increased to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 5 crore families.
Rs. 1500 to Women Jan Dhan account holders
20 crore women Jan Dhan Yojana account holders will get Rs 500 per month for the next three months.
Free cooking gas cylinders to poors
8.3 corore BPL Ujjwala beneficiary families to get free LPG cylinders in next three months.
20 Lakh loan to women self-help groups
Collateral-free loan doubled to Rs 20 lakh to 63 lakh women self-help groups; to impact 7 crore households
EPF Loan/advances
4.8 crores EPFO registered workers can withdraw 3-month wages or 75% of their PF fund, whichever is lower as a non-refundable advance.
PF Contribution to be paid by govt.
Govt of India to pay employer and employee provident fund contribution (12%+12% of salary= 24%) for next three months for all those org with 100+ employees with 90% earning below Rs 15k per month
District mineral fund
Union Govt has requested State Govts to use district mineral fund to augment medical testing and screening and providing health attention.
Construction workers welfare
Welfare for building and construction workers, 3.5 crore registered workers to be benefited as Central Govt has given orders to State Govts to use fund (Rs 31,000 crore) to provide relief.