32 Cr People Received Direct Cash, 5.29 Cr Were Given Ration Amid Coronavirus Lockdown: FM

During a press conference, Rajesh Malhotra from the Ministry of Finance revealed that over 32 crore people have been received direct cash support of Rs 29,352 crore, while 5.29 crore beneficiaries were given free ration of food grains.

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Tuesday revealed that amid the Covid-19 lockdown, over 32 crore people have been received direct cash support of Rs 29,352 crore, while 5.29 crore beneficiaries were given free ration of food grains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package and Ann Yojana. During a press conference, Rajesh Malhotra from the Ministry of Finance said, "5.29 crore beneficiaries have been given free ration of food grains under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana. 3,985 metric tonnes of pulses have been dispatched to various states or union territories for distribution." "Swift implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package is being monitored at the highest level. As of yesterday, more than 32 crore poor people have been given direct cash support of Rs 29,352 crore under the package," he said. The Finance Ministry further added that more than 97 lakh free LPG gas cylinders have been delivered to beneficiaries under Prime Minister Ujjawala Yojana. As many as 1 lakh members of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have benefitted from the online withdrawal of non-refundable advance from EPFO accounts amounting to Rs 510 crore. The government also provided support & aide to farmers during the lockdown period, Rs 14, 946 crore has been transferred to 7.4 crore farmers in the first installment of PM Kisan Yojana. After that, under the national social assistance programme, Rs 9,930 crore was distributed via direct bank transfer among 19.86 crore women who have an account in the Jan-Dhan Yojana. Rs 1,400 crore have been given to about 2.82 crore widows, differently-abled people and the elderly. Over 2 crore construction workers and laborers have received financial support amounting to Rs 3,071 crore, Malhotra said. On Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced that the 21-day nationwide lockdown in India, which was supposed to end on April 14, has been extended till May 3 with strict restrictions in place till April 20. (With Agency Inputs) Watch: Ration distributed to 5.29 crore beneficiaries: Ministry of Finance