India is currently in a 21-day complete coronavirus lockdown. As non-essential businesses have shut, the government has announced a package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore to help the economy at a press conference today. Business Today quoted Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying,
“We have come with a package for migrant workers, urban and rural poor, women and disadvantaged. We are looking both at cash transfers as well as food security measures.”
Government of India announces #PradhanMantriGareebKalyanYojana – a relief package with a total outlay of ₹1,70,000 crore. To benefit Farmers, migrant workers, Urban & Rural poor, Women, Divyang etc.@nsitharaman@FinMinIndia#IndiaFightsCorona #Lockdown21 pic.twitter.com/TVWWis0nNT
— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 26, 2020
According to The Economic Times, doctors, nurses, paramedics, sanitation workers, and ASHA workers who are working tirelessly to contain the coronavirus will get Rs.50 lakh per person insurance cover if they need it.
Govt announces Rs 50 lakh per person medical insurance cover for all those in the frontline of the fight against corona— doctors, nurses, paramedics, Asha workers:. #CompassionWithCoercion 👍
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 26, 2020
In addition, the weaker sections of society will get 5 kg of rice or wheat per household free for 3 months, farmers’ accounts will be credited with Rs.2000 immediately, senior citizens, widows, and Divyangs will get a direct transfer of Rs.1000 for 3 months and BPL families will get free cylinders, reports Financial Express.
First installment of 2000 Rs to be front loaded for beneficiaries of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. This will put cash in the hands of 8.69 Crore farmers in first week of April itself. pic.twitter.com/CINx4MRS2p
— Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (@PBNS_India) March 26, 2020
On Tuesday, she had extended the date for filing income tax & GST returns as well as Aadhaar-PAN linking date. News18 reports that the minimum balance requirement fee and ATM cash withdrawal charges have been done away with for 3 months.
We hope that the underprivileged don’t go hungry, aren’t strapped for funds and can sustain themselves by availing the benefits of this package.