Poor, farm sector likely to be FM Nirmala Sitharaman's next focus

Some of the sectors which have been worst affected by the pandemic and the lockdown include hospitality, tourism, aviation, logistics, e-commerce, automobiles, manufacturing and others

After announcing measures for small businesses, real estate, organised-sector workers and others, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to turn her attention, starting Thursday, to the rural and urban poor and the agricultural sector.
 

Later, there may be some tax relief aimed at the middle class and measures to benefit the sectors worst hit by Covid-19 and the resultant nationwide lockdown.
 

Sources said the focus of Thursday’s announcements could be cash handouts and free foodgrain to the poorest beneficiaries, primarily through direct benefit transfer and the public distribution system.