A day after announcing 15 relief measures to MSMEs, NBFCs, real estate sector, etc, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today addressed the media again and released the second set of benefits of Rs 20 lakh crore economic package today with prime focus on migrant workers, street vendors and small farmers. As declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation, Sitharaman will announce details of the economic package, aimed at making India self-reliant (Aatma Nirbhar Abhiyan), over the next few days.
While making the announcement today, Sitharaman said that, “If we do not speak about a certain component today, it does not mean that the government has forgotten about any particular segment, more initiatives are being announced.”
Highlights of Nirmala Sitharaman’s Press Conference
-Everyday 300 Shramik special trains will run
-Fishermen and animal husbandry farmers will be a part of Kisan credit card scheme
-Kisan credit cards: Rs 2 lakh crore of concessional credit support to 2.5 crore farmers
– Rs 30,000 crore additional emergency fund through NABARD for farmers
– Rs 6000 crore employment support using CAMPA funds for tribals
-For the lower srata of the middle class earning Rs 6-18 lakh annual income, the centre will extend the CLSS scheme for affordable housing till March 2021.
-Special credit facility of Rs 500 crore for street vendors. The scheme will be unveiled within a month.
– Rs 1500 crore interest subvention for MUDRA-Sishu loans
-Centre to launch a scheme for affordable rental housing for migrant workers/urban poor to ensure ease of living by converting centre funded housing in cities into Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) under PPP mode through concessionaire
-Finance Minister announces concessional rental housing complexes for migrant workers
-8 crore non-PDS card holders will get 5 kg of grains per person
-All occupations should be open for women, with provision for night working rights and adequate safeguards
-Ration cards portability to be introduced. ‘One nation, one ration card’ will be implemented within August. Ration cards would be used anywhere in India
-Without cards also the workers can get the grains
-8 crore migrant workers will benefit
-Free food grain supply to all migrant workers
-Social security measures to be extended to gig workers
-Regional disparity in minimum wages to be removed
-Minimum wages to be made universally to all workers
-States have been advised to give work to labourers under MNREGA
-Interest subvention and prompt repayment incentive on crop loans due from 1st March has been extended to 31st May
– Rs 29,500 crore loans refinanced by NABARD
-3 lakh loans have been approved between March and April
Nine steps announced today are focused to benefit migrant workers, street vendors, housing, employment generation in tribal pockets and farmers.
