The central government has come up a relief package of Rs 1.70 lakh crores in the midst of nation-wide lockdown due to coronavirus said union finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 26 while addressing a press meet.
The scheme has been named Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna.
She said, “The government has been working so that does affect directly, particularly the poor and the disadvantaged be reached out to.”
She added that the relief package will include cash transfers and food security for the disadvantaged sections of society.
Expressing gratitude towards health workers who are taking a huge risk every day, the minister announced Rs 50 lakh per person as medical insurance to these warriors.
The beneficiaries will include paramedics, Aasha workers, doctors, nurses etc.
Further, as part of the economic measures for the poor, under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the beneficiaries will now get an additional 5 kg of wheat or rice for free per person. Apart from this, 1 kg of the preferred pulse will also be provided per household for the next three months- this will be over and above what they get already under the scheme, announced Sitharaman.
The union finance minister also mentioned that farmers, widows, pensioners, disabled, organized sector workers through EPFO, construction workers, self-help groups, these will get the benefits during the current scenario.
“Farmers get annual Rs 6000 but now they will get Rs 2000 at the beginning of the year. This will be transferred in their account by the first week of April. A total of 8.69 crore farmers will benefit from this,” said Sitharaman.
The government has also decided to increase the wages under the MGNREGA scheme, wherein each worker will be provided with Rs 2000 additional income.
