New Delhi New Delhi Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday made several big announcements to help the poor amidst a nationwide lockdown to reduce the outbreak of Corona virus. The Finance Minister has announced to give 5 kg of wheat or rice and one kg of pulses free every month for three months to 80 crore poor people across the country. This ration will be given to the poor in addition to the ration already given. Apart from this, the Finance Minister has also made several announcements for women, senior citizens, widows, disabled and laborers.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a relief package of Rs 1,70,000 crore to curb the problems of the poor amidst a nationwide lockdown to prevent corona virus infection. Apart from this, the government has also announced an insurance of 50 lakh rupees for people like health workers working in Agrim Row at the time of this epidemic.
Currently ration holders of Thar ration card holders of the National Food Security Fund Act (NFSA) are distributed with high subsidy at Rs 2 per kg of wheat and Rs 3 per kg of rice. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced additional free ration to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana worth 1.7 lakh crore, 36 hours after the lockdown. Ration card holders can take wheat / rice and pulses from the Public Distribution System (PDS) in two installments.
The Finance Minister has said that these steps will ensure that no poor starves in the country to sleep during this lockdown. According to official figures, the government has a total of 58.49 million tonnes of foodgrains in FCI godowns. Of this, rice is 30.97 million tonnes and wheat is 27.52 million tonnes. As of April 1, this stock of foodgrains is more than the required reserves of 21 million tonnes.
The Finance Minister has announced to pay Rs 500 per month for the next three months to run household expenses in Jan Dhan account of 20.5 crore women. Apart from this, poor senior citizens, widows and disabled persons will be given a pension of Rs 1,000 per month for the next three months. This will be in addition to the pension they are already receiving.
Increased wages in MNREGA
Apart from this, the Finance Minister has also announced to increase the wages of laborers working in MNREGA. MGNREGA wages have been increased from Rs 182 per day to Rs 202 per day. 5 crore laborers will benefit from this.
Farmers will get installment of PM Kisan Yojana in first week of April
The Finance Minister has also made a big announcement for the farmers of the country. The Finance Minister has announced an installment of Rs 2,000 under the PM Kisan Yojana to the country’s 8.69 crore farmers in the first week of April. In addition, the Finance Minister has announced that one cylinder per month will be given free of cost to women who have taken gas connection under the Ujjwala scheme.
Great relief to the employee
The government has also made relief announcements for the employees. The government has allowed employees to withdraw from their EPF account equal to three months salary or 75 per cent. Apart from this, the finance minister has announced the government’s share of PF of employers and employees of small companies with less than 100 employees for three months. In this, 12 percent of the employer and 12 percent of the employee means that 24 percent of the total share will be borne by the government.
Courtsey: jagran.com
