Fight Against COVID-19 : Nirmala Sitharaman Announces Rs 1.7 lakh Crore Package For Poor

Picture : Twitter / ANI

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced Rs 1.7 lakh crore financial package for the poor to help them deal with the ongoing crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing the media , Sitharaman said, ”A package is ready for the poor who need immediate help like migrant workers and urban and rural poor. No one will go hungry. The package is worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore.”

The Rs 1,70,000-crore scheme, dubbed the “Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana” will “address the concerns of poor, migrant workers and those who need help”, she said.

Sitharaman also announced Rs 50 lakh per person insurance cover for doctors, paramedic and healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak.

The Finance Minister said the government will front-load Rs 2,000 payment to farmers in the first week of April under the existing PM Kishan Yojana to benefit 8.69 crore farmers.

”8.69 crore farmers will be immediately benefited through Direct cash transfers. Instalment of Rs 2,000 in the first week of April will be transferred,” she said.

”As many of 20.5 crore women Jan Dhan Account holders will get Rs 500 per month for next three months to run their households. For poor senior citizens, widow and disabled will get an ex-gratia of Rs 1,000,” the FM said. ”Also, the daily wage under MNREGA has been increased to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 5 crore workers,” she added.