New Delhi (NVI): More than 33 crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 31,235 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, the Ministry of Finance said today.
The government’s digital payment infrastructure was intended to protect poor people from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic as they have limited resources.
“Using the digital payment infrastructure, more than 33 crore poor people have been directly given financial assistance of Rs 31,235 crore( as on 22nd April 2020) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 26th March 2020 to protect them from the impact of the lockdown due to COVID 19, “the Finance Ministry said.
Under the package, the Government announced free food grains and cash payment to women and poor senior citizens and farmers.
The Ministry further stated that the swift implementation of the package is being continuously monitored by Central and State governments.
“Finance Ministry, the concerned Ministries, Cabinet Secretariat and PMO are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the relief measures reach the needy swiftly and in line with the intent of the lock down,” read the official statement.
Under the cash transfer scheme, Fintech and digital technology have been employed for swift and efficient transfer to the beneficiary, the Ministry said.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), i.e. transfer that ensures that the amount is directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency has been employed. This has also ensured credit to the beneficiary’s account without the need for the beneficiary to physically go to the branch, it said.
Under various components of PMGKP, the progress achieved so far is as follows:
* Rs 10,025 crore disbursed to 20.05 crore to Women Jan Dhan account holders
* Rs 1405 crore disbursed to about 2.82 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons
* First instalment of PM-KISAN: Rs 16,146 crore transferred to 8 crore farmers
* Rs 162 crore transferred in 68,775 establishments as EPF contribution, benefitting 10.6 lakh employees
* 2.17 crore Building, Construction workers received financial support amounting to Rs 3497 crore
Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana:
* 39.27 crore beneficiaries distributed free ration of food grains
* 1,09,227 MT of Pulses; dispatched to various States/UTs
* Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana : 2.66 crore free Ujjwala cylinders delivered
