Published 20:43 IST, March 26th 2020

PM Modi lauds FM Nirmala Sitharaman's relief plan for the poor amid COVID-19 lockdown

PM Narendra Modi lauded the Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief package unveiled by his govt saying it will go a long way in ensuring food and livelihood security to poor

India News
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief pack unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday saying that it will go a long way "in ensuring food and livelihood security" to India's poor. Sitharaman outlined pack to tide over impact of coronavirus outbreak and subsequent three-week nationwide lockdown.

stimulus plan includes direct cash transfers and food security measures aimed at giving relief to millions of poor hit by coronavirus lockdown. India's ecomy, alrey on a downward trajectory since last year, is set to suffer more pain as shutdown disrupts ecomic activity — from airlines ailing due to travel restrictions to construction activities hitting brakes.

Here's what PM Modi said:

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Sitharaman's stimulus plan

dressing press briefing Nirmala Sitharaman said, " government has been working such that those affected — disvantd of society — will have to be reached out to with tangible help. We have come with a pack that will come to help of those who need it."

Minister furr anunced that re will be Rs 50 lakh insurance per health care worker — ASHA workers, paramedics, doctors, nurses, sanitary workers, as a medical insurance cover for m for three months. Along with it, in dition to alrey allotted five Kg of rice/wheat per person, an ditional 5kg will be free for poor. With this, an ditional one kilogram of pulses according to regional preference will be provided.

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Here is a breakdown of plan:

A pack for poor who need immediate help like migrant workers and urban and rural poor. pack is worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore
Insurance cover of 50 lakh rupees per person to for health professionals, frontline CoronaWarriors - ASHA workers, paramedics, doctors, nurses, sanitary workers - who are putting ir lives at risk & treating Coronavirus patients for three months.
Each one in Prhan Manthri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to get 5Kg (rice/wheat) each month for next three months, over and above 5Kg which is being alrey granted under scheme. ditionally, one kg of preferred regional pulse for each household.
For next three months, in dition to alrey allotted 5Kg of rice/wheat per person, an ditional 5kg will be free. An ditional 1kg pulse (acc to regional preference) will be given.
Also, Rs 2000 per worker w rise in MGNREGA anunced. increase in MNREGA w will be to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182. This will benefit 5 crore families.
Over 8.69 crore farmers to be immediately benefited through Direct cash transfers under PM Kisan Yojana to be given Rs 2000 front payment in first week of April.
Ex-gratia amount of Rs.1000 in two installments over next three months to poor senior citizens, poor widows, and poor among disabled.
Poor senior citizens, poor widows, and disabled will get an ex-gratia one-time amount of Rs 1,000 in two installments through DBT (hence middlemen) over three months. This will benefit 3 crore poor senior citizens, widows and disabled.
For 20 crore women "Jan Dhan" account holders, ex-gratia amount of Rs 500 per month for next three months all payments will be me through DBT.
Also, for 8.3 crores BPL families under "Ujjwala Scheme", free LPG cylinders for next three months.
For 63 lakh women self-help groups will be given up to Rs 20 lakh collateral-free loan. This will benefit about 7 crore households. existing benefit of Rs 10 lakh collateral-free loan under Deen Dhayal scheme thus doubled.
For organised sector, Govt of India will pay EPF contribution both of employer and employee (12% each i.e overall 24%) for next 3 months. This is only for those establishments which have up to 100 employees, where 90% of employees earning less than Rs 15000 per month.
Provident Fund Scheme Regulations will be amended to allow n-refundable vance of 75% of amount standing to credit of person, or three months of ws, whichever is lower. This will benefit 4.8 crore workers.
Directions will be given to State Governments to utilize amount of Rs 31,000 crores lying in Building and Construction Workers Welfare Fund to help 3.5 crores registered workers.
Utilising District Mineral: Will request state govts to use funds to supplement and augment medical testing activities, screening activities, and or activities that are w necessary.