New Delhi: In the second tranche of announcements towards the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package as relief towards the COVID-19 crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced the supply of free food grain to all migrants for two months.
This is part of the three measures the government has proposed to support migrant workers who have or are still making their way back to their hometowns amid the nationwide lockdown.
Migrants who are neither NFSA or State Card beneficiaries in the state they are stationed will be provided 5 kg of grains per person and 1 kg chana per family per month for 2 months.
Around 8 crore migrants are expected to benefit from this announcement and Rs 3,500 crore will be spent by the government towards the initiative.
Sitharaman said that the entire cost will be borne by the Government of India, while state governments will be responsible for the identification of migrants and full distribution as well as providing guidelines.
Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman today announced the second tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crores economic stimulus. Here are some of the quick highlights from the same:
1) Free food grains for migrant workers
Three of the nine announcements made today were for migrant workers. The first of these being free food grains for migrant workers for 2-months. Free food grains would also be extended to migrant workers who do not have a card. 8 crores migrant workers would benefit from the same and a sum of Rs 3,500 crores has been earmarked for the purpose.
2) One nation, one ration card for migrant workers
The ration cards used for PDS ration distribution is to be made portable to allow migrant workers to use ration cards across states. So, a migrant worker with a card from one state can use the same in another state.
3) Affordable housing for migrant workers
The Finance Minister today announced that the government will shortly launch a scheme for affordable rental housing complexes under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana for migrant labour and urban poor.
This will be initiated by converting government-funded housing in cities to such rental complexes through a public-private partnership. There would also be incentives for manufacturing units to build affordable rental housing complexes.
Quick Highlights Of The Second Tranche Of Economic Stimulus
4) Interest subvention for MUDRA-Shishu loans
Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman also said that prompt payees under the MUDRA-Shishu loan scheme will be given an interest subvention of 2 percent for a period of 12 months. About 30 million people to benefit from the same.
5) Credit facility for street vendors
A credit facility for street vendors was announced by the Finance Minister. The facility will provide an initial working capital of up to Rs 10,000 to restart their businesses which have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown.
6) Affordable housing to get a push
A credit linked subsidy scheme for housing has been extended up to March, 2021. Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharman said it is for the lowest strata of middle-income groups (income of up to Rs 6-18 lakh/annum). “This will increase construction services and demand for building materials, cement, steel etc.,” she said.
7) Rs 30,000 crores additional for farmers through NABARD
The government will allocate an additional Rs 30,000 crore to NABARD, so that the same can be released as emergency working capital for farmers. The NABARD already provides up to Rs 90,000 crore annually as working capital to farmers.
8) Rs 2 lakh crore concessional credit for 2.5 crore farmers
The Finance Minister also announced that a Rs 2 lakh crore concessional credit will be extended to 2.5 crore farmers through the Kissan card. Fisherman and animal husbandry workers to also be included in the same.
