Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister of India, on the 26th of March, addressed the media and announced a few financial aid and specific facilities for the poor to fight the Novel Coronavirus in India.
Ms. Sitharaman addressed the media and announced a package of Rs. 1.7 lakh crores by the Finance Ministry of India towards the prevention measures of the Coronavirus or COVID-19. This measure is to aid the citizens of India who are financially in need and are being affected by the Coron+avirus crisis in India.
The financial help included in this package are:
Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojna for 3 months for approximately 80 crore people with an addition of alloting 5 kgs of rice/wheat and 1 kg pulses per person for 3 months.
Cash transfer of Rs. 2,000 per farmer during the first week of April for financial aid. Approximately 8.69 crore farmers would be benefited through direct cash transfers.
Salary increase of Rs. 2,000 for workers who would benefit from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, (MGNREGA.) This would benefit nearly 5 crore families.
Increment of Rs. 1,000 in additional pensions, given to senior citizens, the Divyang, pensioners. Near to 3 crore people would be benefited with this.
Self Help women groups, collateral free loans doubled to Rs. 20 Lakh, to increase money in hand.
Nearly 8.3 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be covered by Ujjwala Scheme, to ensure free cylinders for 3 months.
Jan Dhan Women account holders to be given a compensation of Rs. 500 per month for the next three months. Approximately 20 crore women would be benefited under this.
Besides these schemes, a medical insurance of Rs. 50 lakh for all the healthcare workers who are currently battling the COVID-19 everyday.
The Indian Government reported a total of 649 COVID-19 cases and hopes to deal with the pandemic situation well and full control within 3 months.
