(Image source from: Twitter.com/PIBMumbai)

Nirmala Sitharaman Announces Rs 1.7 Lakh Crore Package For Poor:- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacted with the press to announce the package for the poor and daily wage workers during the coronavirus lockdown in the country. The tax deadlines and other norms are extended and Nirmala Sitharaman announced them on Tuesday. Now she announnced a package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore for the poor on the name of 'Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Scheme'. This includes both cash transfer and food security. An insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs is provided for doctors, nurses, paramedics, sanitation and Asha workers who are working during this critical time.

Five kgs of rice or wheat is already given and 5 kg per person will be given for free for among 80 crore people in the country. One kg of pulse will be given for the people. Around 8.69 crore farmers will get their first installment of Rs 2000 for PM Kisan during the first week of April. To benefit three crore widows, Rs 1000 ex-gratia for three months is offered. To benefit 8.3 crore BPL families, free cylinders will be given for three months. Rs 31,000 crores funds will be used to help the building and construction labour who are left without work.

All in all, this Rs 1.7 lakh crore package would help the poor to stand strong during this lockdown period.

(Video Source: PIB India)