Tamil Nadu provided Rs 6,600 crore for buying medical equipment for COVID battle: Sitharaman

Centre has provided Rs 6,600 crore to Tamil Nu since April for procurement of medical equipment to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday.

Besides, a total of Rs 2,825 crore worth assistance h been released to state till June 14 through various welfare scheme components of Prhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, she told BJP's Tamil Nu unit workers dressing a virtual rally.

"Considering that government will need funds to buy medical equipment like ventilators, Rs 6,600 crore was given to Tamil Nu in this fiscal within se three months to tackle COVID-19 and to see that people do t face any difficulty," Minister said.

Under PM Garib Kalyan scheme, rice and wheat was supplied to Tamil Nu and it reached 8.64 crore people. Also, in Jan Dhan bank accounts, cumulatively, Rs 610 crore h been deposited into accounts of 1.22 crore women beneficiaries in Tamil Nu for months of April and May by way of assistance of Rs 500 per month, Sitharaman said.

A sum of Rs 1,937 crore h been disbursed to about 47,000 MSMEs in state from Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme till June 11, she said. Sitharaman listed 'achievements' of Narendra Modi government in last one year in its second term.

(Photo Credit: PTI)