Coronavirus Pandemic Updates: FM Announces Rs 1.7 Lakh Crore Economic Package

New Delhi: In the wake of nationwide lockdown, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced Rs 1.7 Lakh Crore Economic Package including Direct Cash Transfers  for those hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed 16 lives in the country.

In a major relief,  the Centre has come up with Rs 50 lakh per person insurance cover for doctors, paramedic, healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak as well as 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months for 80 crore poor people.

Sitharaman, speaking about the economic relief measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, said 8.69 crore farmers under the PM Kisan Yojana will be provided Rs 2,000 in the first week of April.

Old, poor widows, poor and old divyang to get ex-gratia Rs 1,000 in two installments over the next three months, she added.

Similarly the Centre has also decided to provide Rs.₹2,000 per farmer to to 8.7 crore farmers through DBT.

Women in Self-Helf groups (SHGs) will be provided collateral free loans upto Rs 20 lakh, expected to help 7 crore households.

Women Jan Dhan account holders would receive an ex-gratia amount of Rs 500 per month for the next 3 months, to benefit 20.5 crore women. A total of 8.3 crore BPL Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries will be given free cylinders for 3 months, Seetharaman said.

construction workers, welfare fund for building and construction workers currently having Rs 31 thousand crore will be used, which is expected to benefit 3.5 crore registered workers. The District Mineral Fund will be utilised for supplementing and augmenting all kinds of medical testing, screening activities, she further added.