Union Government today unveiled the second tranche of relief measures to help alleviate the distress for small farmers, migrant workers, small traders and self-employed people under the Atmanirbhar Bharat, Self-reliant India campaign.
The stimulus was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, during his address to the nation. He had called on Indians to be vocal for local.
Announcing the measures, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, government will extend special relief to almost eight crore migrant workers who do not have either Central or State PDS cards by giving them free food grain supply for next two months.
Under this relief measure, five kilograms per person of wheat or rice and one kilogram chana per family will be given to the migrants at the Centre’s expense amounting to three thousand 500 crore rupees. In her second press conference in as many days, Finance Minister also announced an affordable rental housing scheme for migrant workers besides five thousand crore special credit facility for nearly 50 lakh street vendors.
Referring to the National Portability Cards under the One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme, Finance Minister explained that these will be beneficial for all migrant workers in the country. Benefitting over 67 crore people, this scheme will enable a Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiary to use the Ration Card in order to procure food grains from any ration shop across the country.
In a major boost to the rural economy, Ms. Sitharaman made an announcement of emergency working capital fund of 30 thousand crore rupees for the farmers through NABARD. This amount is in addition to the 90 thousand crore rupees announced earlier and is aimed to benefit over three crore farmers in the country.
