Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a huge financial package to boost the Indian Republic in its fight against deadly Corona Virus. She announced a relief package worth Rs 1.70 lakh crore to help the nation's poor tackle the financial difficulties during thi
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- Last Updated: Thursday, 26 March 2020 16:42
Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a huge financial package to boost the Indian Republic in its fight against deadly Corona Virus. She announced a relief package worth Rs 1.70 lakh crore to help the nation's poor tackle the financial difficulties during this critical juncture.
The package includes a mix of food security and direct cash transfer benefits which shield poor families during the lockdown.
PMGKY package
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKY) which is a part of the relief package, at least 80 crore poor people will be covered.
Under the scheme, an additional five kilos of rice/wheat will be given to 80 crore individuals -- over the 5 kilo they already get -- along with a one-kilo pulse per household for a period of three months. 
Talking about health workers she informed the media that safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists and other health would be covered by a special insurance scheme. Any health professional who while treating Covid-19 patients meets with some accident, then he/she would be compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme.
Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme
This scheme will be provided to senior citizens, widows, farmers and daily wage laborers.
- 8.69 crore farmers to be immediately benefited through direct cash transfers under Kisan Samman Nidhi. Instalment of Rs 2,000 in the first week of April will be transferred.
- Wages under MNREGA will also be increased by Rs 2000 per worker on an average as additional income to help daily wage labourers.
- Three crore senior citizens, persons with disabilities (Divyangs) and widows will get one-time additional amount of Rs 1,000 in two instalments, to be given through DBT over a period of three months
- 20 crore Jan Dhan women account holders will be covered under the relief package and a compensation of Rs 500 per month for the next three months.
- BPL families will get free cylinders for three months under the Ujjawala scheme as well.
- Collateral-free loans have been doubled to Rs 20 Lakh for women self-help groups under the Deen Dayal National Livelihood Mission. It will help seven crore women.
- The government will bear the cost of EPF contribution of both employer and employee (24 per cent) for the next three months. However, this is only for those establishments which have up to 100 employees and 90 per cent of them earn less than Rs 15,000. This is like to benefit around 4.8 crore employees.