The Union government has announced a relief package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore today to protect migrant workers, urban and rural poor, and frontline health workers from the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic.

The move was made to address “the welfare concerns of the poor, and suffering workers, and those who need immediate help,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a press briefing where the package was announced.

The highlights of the Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme are:

• Two set of measures linked to cash transfers (Direct Benefit Transfers) and food security.
• Medical insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh per person for doctors, ASHAs, sanitation workers, frontline health workers.

Rs 50 Lakhs Medical insurance cover to be provided as part of #PradhanMantriGareebKalyanYojana to the frontline warriors- ASHA workers, Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics etc; @nsitharaman @FinMinIndia#IndiaFightsCorona #Lockdown21 pic.twitter.com/0rziELvJsx

— PIB India ?? #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 26, 2020

• For MGNREGS workers

#PradhanMantriGareebKalyanYojana
Government announces a wage increase in MGNREGA; to result in addition income of ₹2000/worker; to benefit 5 crore families #IndiaFightsCorona #Lockdown21 pic.twitter.com/tfPULtKtSp

— PIB India ?? #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 26, 2020

Download  our latest brief on MGNREGS

• For Farmers

#PradhanMantriGareebKalyanYojana relief to #FARMERS:
An advance 1st installment of ₹2,000 to be released as part of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana; To benefit 8.69 crore farmers.#IndiaFightsCorona #Lockdown21 pic.twitter.com/UpaFKggaf2

— PIB India ?? #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 26, 2020

Download details about PM KIsan SAmman Nidhi

• For women with Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, the measures are

#PradhanMantriGareebKalyanYojana #ReliefPackage to women #JanDhan account holders: an
ex gratia amount of ₹500/month for next 3 months; to benefit 20 crore women #IndiaFightsCorona #Lockdown21 pic.twitter.com/Dn4y8xNYQZ

— PIB India ?? #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 26, 2020

• Three free cylinders will be provided to 8 crore beneficaries under the Ujjwala scheme.

Government to provide 3 free cooking gas cylinders for the next 3 months under the #Ujjwala Scheme; to benefit 8 crore BPL families. #PradhanMantriGareebKalyanYojana #ReliefPackage #IndiaFightsCorona #Lockdown21 pic.twitter.com/M4WEdscusN

— PIB India ?? #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 26, 2020

• Women Self-Help Groups will be provided collateral-free loans of upto Rs 20 lakh.

• Government of India will pay 24% contribution to the Employee Provident Fund for the next 3 months for all establishments which have upto 100 employees, and 90% of who earn less than Rs 15,000 per month as wage. For full details on other measures for the organised sector, click here.