Highlights: FM aims to help migrant workers, Congress says not enough done

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced free food grains for 8 crore migrants for 2 months. Stay tuned with Business Standard for FM press conference live updates

8:02 PM

All we got was loan schemes and no relief: Yechury

All we got was loan schemes and no relief. Most are old. So this is a Repackage of old schemes. It is an insult.

7:49 PM

These steps will strengthen people in rural areas: Agriculture Minister

The announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today for labourers, farmers & the poor are historic & unprecedented. These steps will strengthen people in rural areas who will contribute to make India self-reliant: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

7:42 PM

The indignity with which PM talked about MNREGA, the same MNREGA is a life saver: Cong

7:33 PM

Podcast: All 9 Steps FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced in second tranche

Listen to the podcast to know about all the nine measures Finance Minister announced today. Click to Listen

 

7:24 PM

Announcements will especially benefit our farmers and migrant workers: Modi

Today’s announcements by FM @nsitharaman will especially benefit our farmers and migrant workers. The announcements include a series of progressive measures and will boost food security, credit to farmers as well as street vendors: PM Modi

7:07 PM

It was classic display of arrogance, ignorance, insensitivity: Congress

The entire quantum of this package is ₹3500 crores out of a ₹20 lakh crore package that BJP ostensibly put together for the greatest humanitarian tragedy since the 1947 partition exodus and the East Pakistan refugee crisis. For the millions of migrants that you claim are the builders of this nation, all you have for them is 3500 crores in terms of atta and chana. This is your empathy for the poor of this country. That’s why we say you’re a ‘Suit Boot Sarkaar’. Except for the Rs 1500 crore interest subvention for Shishu Mudra loans and this Rs 3500 crores, there is nothing else. The Government does not even have the figure of how many people were housed in relief camps

7:05 PM

Free food grain for migrant workers, easy farm credit in stimulus round 2

The government on Thursday announced a Rs 3.16 lakh crore package of free foodgrains for migrant workers, concessional credit to farmers and working capital loan for street vendors as part of the second tranche of fiscal stimulus to heal an economy hit hard by coronavirus lockdown. At a news conference, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said 8 crore migrant workers will get 5 kgs of grains and 1 kg of pulses free for two months, while 50 lakh street vendors rendered jobless by the lockdown would be given a working capital loan of Rs 10,000 each. Read More

Migrant children quench their thirst during their journey towards their native place in Uttar Pradesh, amid ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Ghaziabad

7:00 PM

Sudden lockdown with no relief: Yechury

Sudden lockdown with no relief. Is Modi govt proud of what it has inflicted on millions of poor Indians across the country?  This is his vision of ‘self reliant’ India?

6:53 PM

Amit Shah thanks PM Modi for the announcements

Home Miniuster Amit Shah thanks PM Modi for the announcements made to benefit migrants and farmers. He said 8 crore people will benefit from this relief of Rs 3500 crores. In the SDRF fund of the states for their stay and food even before the central government ₹ 11002 crores has been given.

6:42 PM

What do you feel when you see all the migrants on the street? Congress asks PM

Dear PM, What do you feel when you see all the migrants on the street? Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep? What do you feel when you look in the mirror?

Are you proud?

6:25 PM

Housing subsidy scheme for middle-income families extended till March 2021: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a Rs 70,000-crore boost to housing sector by extending the subsidy scheme for affordable housing for the middle income group.

 

The credit-linked subsidy scheme for the middle income group with an annual income of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 18 lakh was operationalised from May 2017 and extended up to March 2020. She said the scheme is being extended by one year to benefit 2.5 lakh middle income families. She also announced a Rs 5,000-crore special credit facility for street vendors by providing them with working capital of up to Rs 10,000, she said adding this would support 50 lakh street vendors.

 

For farmers, FM announced a Rs 30,000-crore additional emergency working capital funding through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

 

6:20 PM

Govt to launch affordable rental housing for migrants and urban poor: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The Centre will launch a scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for migrant labour and the urban poor to build affordable rental housing facilities for them.

 

Speaking to the media, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that under the scheme, government-funded housing in different cities will be converted into affordable rental housing complexes under the public-private partnership mode.

 

Further, the government will also incentivise manufacturing units, industries, institutions, associations to develop affordable rental housing complexes on their private land and operate them.

6:11 PM

Govt announces free foodgrain to migrants, concessional credit to farmers

The government on Thursday announced a Rs 3.16 trillion package of free foodgrains for migrant workers, concessional credit to farmers and working capital loan for street vendors as part of the second tranche of fiscal stimulus to heal an economy hit hard by coronavirus lockdown.

 

At a news conference, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said 8 crore migrant workers will get 5 kgs of grains and 1 kg of pulses free for two months, while 50 lakh street vendors rendered jobless by the lockdown would be given a working capital loan of Rs 10,000 each.

 

As many as 2.5 crore farmers will be provided Rs 2 trillion of concessional credit through Kisan Credit Cards.

 

6:01 PM

Govt announces Rs 5,000-crore Special Credit facility for street vendors

Sensing adverse impact on the livelihood of street vendors due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre on Thursday announced Rs 5,000- crore special credit facility to benefit nearly 50 lakh such vendors.

 

The scheme will be launched within one month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press briefing. The Minister said that Rs 10,000 loan will be given to the needy vendors, but this is not a fixed amount, and will be decided after consultation with banks. Digital payments will be incentivized through monetary rewards and enhanced working capital credit would be made available for good repayment behaviour, she said.

 

The Minister said the scheme will support nearly 50 lakh street vendors and will provide liquidity of Rs 5,000 crore.

5:54 PM

Centre asked state govts to use Rs 11,000 crore under SDRF to set up shelters and provide food and water to urban poor/migrant labourers: FM

The Central government has asked states to use the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to set up shelters and provide food and water to the urban poor, including migrant labourers. Rs 11,000 crore was sent for this purpose, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

5:52 PM

Work offered to 2.33 crore wagers in 1.87 lakh panchayats under MGNREGA: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, on Thursday, work had been offered to 2.33 crore wagers in 1.87 lakh panchayats under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

 

Addressing a press conference, Sitharaman said, "Work under the MGNREGA has been provided to 2.33 crore wagers in 1.87 lakh panchayats to benefit migrant workers, who are being actively enrolled."

 

The government had generated 14.62 crore persondays of work till May 13, which was 40-50 per cent more compared with May 2019. "This is to help migrant labourers find work who have returned to their home states," she said.

5:46 PM

Rs 20 trillion economic stimulus package to benefit rural poor migrants, farmers, migrant labours, and needy among others: FM Sitharaman

Rs 20 trillion economic stimulus package to benefit rural poor migrants, urban poor, farmers, msmes, unorganised workers, migrant labours, small businesses, street vendors, middle income group, tribals, and the needy among others.

 

5:41 PM

Govt to take up affordable rental housing for migrants, urban poor: FM Sitharaman

The Centre will launch a scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for migrant labour and the urban poor to build affordable rental housing facilities for them.

 

Speaking to the media, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that under the scheme, government-funded housing in different cities will be converted into affordable rental housing complexes under the public-private partnership mode.

 

Further, the government will also incentivise manufacturing units, industries, institutions, associations to develop affordable rental housing complexes on their private land and operate them.

5:38 PM

Govt to launch a scheme for affordable rental housing for migrant workers/urban poor: FM Sitharaman

Government to launch a scheme for affordable rental housing for migrant workers/urban poor to provide ease of living by converting govt funded housing in cities into Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) under PPP mode through concessionaire: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

5:37 PM

FM Sitharaman announces free food grains for 8 crore migrant workers for two months

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced free foodgrains for an estimated 8 crore migrant workers for next two months at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore.

 

Announcing the second tranche of economic stimulus package, she said 8 crore migrant workers who do not have either central or state PDS card, will get 5 kilogram of grains per person and 1 kilogram of 'chana' for two months.

 

Also, PDS ration cards will be made portable, allowing migrant workers to use their ration cards across states, she said adding this would benefit 67 crore beneficiaries or 83 per cent of PDS beneficiaries, in 23 states by August. By March 2021, 100 per cent coverage under 'One Nation One Ration Card' will be done, she added.

 

5:34 PM

Rs 10,000-crore job work offered under MNREGS to migrant workers: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said Rs 10,000 crore has been spent in the last two months on creating 14.62 crore man-days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to help migrant workers.

 

Announcing the second tranche of economic stimulus package, she said the work has been offered to 2.33 crore wage seekers till May 13.

 

About 40-50 per cent more persons have been enrolled as compared to May last year, she said. On reforms in pipeline, she said the government is for universal right to minimum wages and wants to remove regional disparity through a national floor wage.

 

5:33 PM

Migrant workers, street vendors, small farmers to benefit from economic stimulus: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the second tranche of the economic stimulus package will benefit migrant workers, street vendors, and small farmers.

 

Emphasising on building a self-reliant India, she said Thursday's initiative, which is the second tranche, focuses on migrant workers, street vendors, small traders, self-employed and small farmers. She insisted the stimulus consists of nine steps benefiting each category.

 

"Three steps for migrant workers, 1 for 'sishu' loan within Mudra, one related to street vendors, one to housing, one for employment generation for tribals, and two related to small farmers," Sitharaman said.

5:30 PM

Rs 10,000 crore worth of steps taken so far this year for generating work for migrant labourers in 187,000 gram panchayats: FM Sitharaman

5:29 PM

One Nation One Ration Card: 67 crore beneficiaries in 23 states covering 83% of PDS population will be covered, says FM

One Nation One Ration Card: 67 crore beneficiaries in 23 states covering 83% of PDS population will be covered by national portability by August 2020 and 100% national portability will be achieved by March 2021

5:25 PM

Rs 11,000 crore given to states under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to help migrant workers and urban poor: FM Sitharaman

Rs 11,000 crore were given to states under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to help migrant workers and urban poor: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

 

5:23 PM

FM press conference LIVE: Free food grain to be supplied to around 8 crores migrants for two months, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Free food grain to be supplied to around 8 crores migrants for two months. Those who do not hold central or state ration cards will be given 5 kg of rice/wheat & 1 kg of chana for next two months: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

 

5:21 PM

Rs 2 lakh crore concessional credit boost to 2.5 crore farmers through Kisan Credit Cards: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

5:20 PM

FM Sitharaman announces Rs 1,500 crore interest subvention for MUDRA Shishu loans of up to Rs 50,000

5:18 PM

To create job opportunities for tribals, plans worth Rs 6,000 crore to be approved shortly: FM Sitharaman

To create job opportunities for tribals /adivasis - plans worth Rs 6,000 crore to be approved shortly under Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Funds: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

5:17 PM

All occupations should be open for women, with provision for night working rights and adequate safeguards: FM Nirmala Sitharaman