Government’s relief announcement: Poor and the underprivileged section of our society are the ones most affected by this lockdown. People who have savings and can afford for their daily meal face lesser difficulties. But the section who has no savings, no source of earning for them getting a stomach full meal every day is not possible.
To serve this, to reach out poorest of the poor, to provide the daily meal so that no one sleeps with an empty belly. Both central and state government has come up with various relief programs. Which is being run diligently and systematically?
Announcements by the Central Government
Union Finance and Corporate minister of Central government of India Nirmala Sitharaman announced a sum of 1.70 Lakh crore as a relief fund for the underprivileged section of our society under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. She says “Today’s measures are intended at reaching out to the poorest of poor, with food and money in hands, sot that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs”.
Benefits of this announcement will be received by the following section of people in the following manner:
- For the people working in hospitals and other healthcare organizations treating and taking care of COVID-19 infected patients. Various insurance schemes have been introduced to them.
- PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana comprises at least of 80 crore people. Who will be beneficiary under this programme? Under this scheme, every poorest of the poor will not suffer due to the nonavailability of foodgrains. For the next three months, 1kg of pulse per family will be provided for free of cost to the underprivileged section of our society.
- Under PM Kisan Yojana 8.3 crore farmers will receive the first installment of 2020-21 in April 2020.
- Under PM Jan Dhan Yojana 20.40 crore female account holders will receive a sum of INR 500/- for the next three months.
- For windows, senior citizens and Divyang who are financially vulnerable during this pandemic will receive a sum of INR 1000/- for the next three months.
- Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana 13.62 crore families benefiting with MNREGA will receive an increased wage of Rs. 20 per month which turns to an earning of INR 2000/- annually.
And many more such relief funds and schemes have been generated to help the weaker section of the society so that none of the citizen sleeps craving for food with an empty stomach.
Announcements by various State Government
Uttar Pradesh
Yogi Adityanath has announced a relief fund of INR 353 crore which will be deposited as cash to all the labourers and daily wage earners which counts to approximately 3.53 million of population of Uttar Pradesh.
Punjab
Punjab State government has announced an instant relief of INR 3000/- to the accounts of all the registered worker. The government has also initiated a fund of INR 20 crore for free food and medicine to all the ones in need all over state.
Haryana
INR 1200 crore per month relief fund will be generated by Haryana government to provide special finance assistance to people below the poverty line that includes all the daily wage earners, labourers etc.
Delhi
No salary cut for those who work in the institutions that have been shut down due to COVID-19. For the ones receiving food from ration shops will get an extra of 50 percent for next month.
Kerela
The state government has announced various tax reliefs to auto-rickshaws, taxis, and buses. Foodgrains will be provided to every citizen of the state for free without calculating their poverty level. INR 2000 crore will be distributed under some special programs to the people in need.
Himachal Pradesh
The state government has announced INR 500 crore for the underprivileged section of society. Sum of INR 30 crore for construction workers which will be distributed as INR 2000/- per month for the next three months.
This was all about the generated relief to the poor during the lockdown. We all should come up to support the needy as well as our government in this time of crisis. Please support the nation in fighting with this pandemic by staying home and staying safe.