Delhi: FM Nirmala Sitharaman, on Thursday, announced a economic relief package for poor and daily wagers in the wake of corona virus outbreak. The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has spread across 190 countries. The outbreak is having a major impact on global economy and the stock market and to tackle this problem, government has come up with Rs 1.7 lakh crore PM Gareeb Kalyan scheme aimed at reaching out to the poorest.
“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,” Sitharaman said.
Along with this, 50 lakh insurance has also been announced for the employees working in the hour of crisis. 20 lakh employees will benefit from insurance.
“This package includes a mix of food security and direct cash transfer benefits, which will shield poor families during the lockdown.” said Finance minister
Under this package, 80 crore poor will be given additional 5 Kg rice/wheat ration and some direct money will be transfered to the accounts of poor. She said that they will give ration free for the next three months. 8 crore farmers of the country will also be given some amount of Kisan Samman Nidhi immediately.
Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the “corona commandos ” or volunteers who are fighting this war will be given life insurance of 15 lakhs.The Finance Minister also said that the government has made arrangements to ensure that the poor will not sleep hungry.
Earlier on March 24, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several announcements related to the common people through video conferencing. Under this, cash withdrawal from ATM has been free for the next 3 months. This means that if you withdraw cash from any bank’s ATM, then there will be no charge on it. With this, the problem of minimum balance has also ended.At the same time, the Finance Minister has also announced a reduction in bank fees for all trade finance customers on a digital business deal. This step has been taken to promote digital payments.