Amid the nationwide lockdown and India’s battle against the global pandemic Covid-19, the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package on Thursday under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Coronavirus. Keeping in mind the condition of daily wager, farmers and worker’s condition amid the nationwide lockdown, the government has decided to allow relief packages to the poor.
While addressing the press conference on Thursday, Sitharaman said: “Today’s measures are intended at reaching out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.”
Following are the components of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: —
Insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19 in Government Hospitals and Health Care Centres
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Safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists and other health workers would be covered by a Special insurance Scheme.
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Any health professional, who while treating Covid-19 patients, meet with some accident, then he/she would be compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme.
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All government health centres, wellness centres and hospitals of Centre, as well as States, would be covered under this scheme approximately 22 lakh health workers would be provided insurance cover to fight this pandemic.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
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Government of India would not allow anybody, especially any poor family, to suffer on account of non-availability of foodgrains due to disruption in the next three months.
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80 crore individuals, i.e, roughly two-thirds of India’s population would be covered under this scheme.
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Each one of them would be provided double of their current entitlement over the next three months.
Pulses:
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To ensure adequate availability of protein to all the above-mentioned individuals, 1 kg per family, would be provided pulses according to regional preferences for the next three months.
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These pulses would be provided free of cost by the Government of India.
Benefits of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana:
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The first instalment of Rs 2,000 due in 2020-21 will be front-loaded and paid in April 2020 itself under the PM KISAN Yojana.
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It would cover 8.7 crore farmers
Cash transfers Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana:
Help to Poor:
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A total of 20.40 crores PMJDY women account-holders would be given an ex-gratia of Rs 500 per month for the next three months.
Gas cylinders:
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Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, gas cylinders, free of cost, would be provided to 8 crore poor families for the next three months.
Help to low wage earners in organised sectors:
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Wage-earners below Rs 15,000 per month in businesses having less than 100 workers are at risk of losing their employment.
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Under this package, the government proposes to pay 24 per cent of their monthly wages into their PF accounts for the next three months.
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This would prevent disruption in their employment.
Support for senior citizens (above 60 years), widows and Divyang:
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There are around 3 crore aged widows and people in Divyang category who are vulnerable due to economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
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The government will give them Rs 1,000 to tide over difficulties during the next three months.
