32 crore given fiscal aid: Centre

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 13

A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ address on further plans to tackle Covid-19, the government today gave a progress report on relief to farmers, poor and women since his decision to impose the lockdown in the country.

According to officials, more than 32 crore poor people received financial assistance for Rs 29,352 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package while 7.47 crore farmers received the first installment of Rs 14,946 crore under the PM-Kisan scheme under which eight crore farmers have been identified as beneficiaries.

To ensure that weaker sections continue to get basis amenities and are not impacted during the lockdown, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore package. As part of the package, the government is providing fee foodgrains and cash payment to women, poor senior citizens and farmers.

Fintech and digital technology have been employed for swift and efficient transfer while Direct Benefit Transfer ensures the amount is directly credited into the account of beneficiaries, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency, said officials.

So far, 20.11 lakh MT of foodgrains have been lifted by 31 states/UTs and 1.39 crore cylinders booked under this PMUY scheme and 97.8 lakh PMUY free cylinders delivered. As many as 2.1 lakh members of the EPFO have availed online withdrawal of Rs 510 crore so far.

Rs 1,000 crore has already been released to the EPFO for the scheme for April and 78.74 lakh beneficiaries and concerned establishments informed.

As many as 19.86 crore women Jan Dhan account holders received Rs 500 each in their accounts.

As on April 13, the total disbursement under the head was Rs 9,930 crore while under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Rs 1,400 crore has been disbursed among about 2.82 crore widows, disabled and old-age persons. Each beneficiary received an ex-gratia cash of Rs 500 under the scheme as the first installment. Another installment of Rs 500 each will be paid next month.

As many as 2.17 crore building and construction workers received financial support from the Building and Construction Workers’ Fund managed by the state governments. Under this, Rs 3,071 crore were given to beneficiaries.