Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that PM Gareeb Kalyan Scheme will entail Rs 1.7 lakh crore to help the poor during the lockdown. This will include both cash transfer and food security. FM also said We are providing insurance cover worth Rs 50 lakh for sanitation workers, ASHA workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics in case they need it as they are on the frontlines of the corona battle.
Over and above 5kg of rice/wheat that is already given. Another 5 kg per person will be given free to around 80 crore people through PDS. Farmers will get Rs 2,000 of PM Kisan will be given in the first week of April. 8.69 cr farmers will get immediate benefits out of it. Old age/widows will also get an ex gratia amount of Rs 1,000 for next three months available in two instalments. It will benefit 3 crore widows and senior citizens.
Nirmala Sitharaman also said about the organised sector. Government of India will pay the EPF contribution both of the employer and the employee put together 24% for next three months. This is for those establishments with up to 100 employees, 90% of them earning less than Rs 15,000.
For the organised sector, EPFO regulation will be amended so that workers can draw up to 75% for their contingency expenditure non-refundable advance or three months of wages in advance whichever is less. This will benefit 4.8 cr workers.
