New Delhi: As the nation battles the war against Coronavirus, the Centre has extended cash assistance of Rs 68,820 crore to around 42 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) till now.
The 1.70 lakh crore PMGKP package was meant to ease the economic distress, mainly for poor and underprivileged class. Besides the direct cash benefits, PMGKP also provided free distribution of free foodgrains including wheat, rice, pulses and gas cylinders.
The swift implementation of the package is being continuously monitored by Central and State governments.
Direct cash benefits to women & senior citizens
Over 17,800 crore rupees frontloaded towards payment of the first instalment of PM-KISAN to 8.94 crore beneficiaries. Rs 10,325 crore rupees was credited to 20.65 crore Women Jan Dhan account holders as first installment while Rs 10,315 crore was credited to 20.63 crore women Jan Dhan account holders as second installment. In the third instalment, Rs 10,312 crore was credited to 20.62 crore women Jan Dhan account holders.
A total of Rs 2,814 crore were disbursed to about 2.81 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons in two installments. Over 1.82 crore building and construction workers received financial support amounting to Rs 4,987 crore.
Free foodgrains to beneficiaries and migrants
Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana , 37.52 lakh metric tonnes of food grains has been distributed to 75.04 crore beneficiaries in April 37.46 LMT distributed to 74.92 crore beneficiaries in May and 36.62 LMTdistributed to 73.24 crore beneficiaries in June this year. Scheme was further extended for 5 months till November.
Since then, 98.31 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) foodgrains has been lifted by States and UTs so far. In July 36.09 LMT food grains was distributed to 72.18 crore beneficiaries, in August ’20 30.22 LMT distributed to 60.44 crore beneficiaries.
Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat , the Government announced supply of free food grains and Chana to migrants for 2 months. The estimated number of migrants provided by the States was about 2.8 crore migrants.
Over 3 crore free cylinders delivered, Online withdrawal from EPFO
A total 8.52 crore Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) cylinders have already been delivered for April and May 2020 under this Scheme so far. 3.27 crore PMUY free cylinders delivered to beneficiaries in June this year.
36.05 lakh members have benefited from online withdrawal of advance from EPFO account amounting to Rs 9,543 crore.
Under MGNREGA, an increased rate has been notified from April 1st and in the current financial year, 195.21 crore person’s man-days of work has been generated.
