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

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

7:07 PM

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

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

6:53 PM

Amit Shah thanks PM Modi for the announcements

6:42 PM

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

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.