Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)

New Delhi, Mar 26: The Centre on Thursday announced a Rs 170,000 crore worth of relief package to protect the weaker sections of the society from the economic fallout of COVID-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

"This scheme includes food security and cash transfers," said Nirmala Sitharaman.

"The government has been working so that those affected due to the novel coronavirus since the lockdown commenced on the intervening night of 24-25 March, will be reached out. We have come up with a package which will take care of the welfare concerns of the poor," she added.

The Centre would also provide Rs 50 lac worth health insurance cover per health worker for three months.

The Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Yojana (Food Scheme) to provide 80 crore people, 5 kg of wheat/rice in addition to what they are getting. The families will also get one kg of a choice of pulse for the next three months. This can be taken in two instalments, asserted the FM.

"Wage increase under MNREGA scheme will benefit 5 crore families. The wage increase will result in an additional income of Rs 2,000 per worker," she announced.

"They receive Rs 6,000 per annum through the PM-KISAN scheme. We will now be giving the first instalment upfront. Around 8.69 crore farmer will get immediate benefit out of this," Sitharaman added.

The Finance Minister also clarified regarding who will be benefitted from PMGKAY. The cash transfer under the scheme will be through DBT in eight parts - Farmers, MNREGA, widows, poor pensioners, divyang, women under Jan Dhan Yojana, women and households under Ujjwala scheme, self-help groups for women especially under the livelihood mission, organized sector workers under EPFO, construction workers and district mineral funds.

The Centre will also contribute 24 per cent towards EPF for firms with more than 100 employees for the next three month. The 24 per cent will be divided equally between the employee and the employer.

Women Jan Dhan account holders to get Rs 500 per month for the next three months. "There are 63 lac self-help groups for women in the country. They currently can avail Rs 10 lac collateral-free loans. That limit is doubled to 20 lac," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Over 8.3 crore BPL families will receive free LPG cylinders for 3 months under the Ujjwala scheme, she announced.

State governments will be directed under Buildings and Other Construction Workers’ Fund to utilise an existing Rs 31,000 crore welfare fund for benefit of 3.5 crore construction workers.

Further, the District Mineral Fund will also be utilised to augment medical testing, screening and other requirements to fight coronavirus and preventing the spread of the virus.