PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY):
On 30 June 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till November end. During the crucial lock-down period, as per PIB “80 crore poor people got 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month”. He said that the expansion of the scheme will cost the government Rs 90,000 crore.
He further said that a timely lockdown and other decisions saved lakhs of lives in the country. As now we have entered the ‘Unlock 2’ phase, he warned the citizens to maintain social distancing norms and to take precautions to break the spread of COVID-19.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, to combat the economic impact on the poor and needy, PM Narendra Modi led government on 26 March, 2020 announced ₹1.7 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). Do you know about PMGKY? Also, let us have a look at the major highlights announced by the FM Nirmala Sitharaman.
Amid COVID-19 lockdown, the Government of India has announced Rs 20 lakh crore relief package under ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan‘ to make a self-reliant nation. For all establishments, EPF relief with Rs 2,500 crore liquidity support.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) was also launched by the Government of India in 2016. Income taxpayers are also given an opportunity to forgo prosecution by declaring their illegal money.
Oppurtunity
The Scheme provides an opportunity to persons having undisclosed income in the form of cash or deposit in an account maintained with a specified entity (which includes banks, post office, etc.) to declare such income and pay tax, surcharge, and penalty totaling in all to 49.9 percent. Of such declared income. Besides, the Scheme provides also that a mandatory deposit of not less than 25% of such income shall be made in the Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Deposit Scheme, 2016 (hereinafter ‘the PMGKY Deposit Scheme’) which has separately also been notified by the Department of Economic Affairs
As per recent corona relief, ‘Garib Kalyan Package’ announced by the FM Nirmala Sitharaman:
– Provision to open the bank branches.
– For Building and Construction workers:
The central government has given orders to the state government for building and construction workers to use funds of ₹31,000 crores to provide relief to them.
– PMGKY will include the transfers of cash to the poor and migrants.
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Under the PMGKY (food scheme)
around 80 crore, people benefitted. Additionally, everyone will get 5 kg of wheat/rice for free of whatever they are already getting. The government will also provide 1 kg of a pulse of their choice to each household till November end.
– Medical insurance cover of ₹50 lakh per healthcare worker.
– Through the PM-KISAN scheme, farmers are receiving ₹6000 every year. The government now will give first instalment upfront. It is estimated that about 8.69 crore farmers are expected to benefit from this immediately.
What is PM Kisan Saman Nidhi Yojna?
– The government expects that wage increase through MNREGA will benefit around 13.62 crore families. It will an amount into an additional income of ₹2,000 per worker.
MNREGA
– In total eight parts namely farmers, MNREGA, widows, poor pensioners, divyang, women under Jan DhanYojana, women and households under Ujjwala scheme, self-help groups for women including those the livelihood mission, organised sector workers under EPFO, construction workers and district mineral funds will offer cash transfer through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
– For the next three months, Divyangs, poor senior citizens, widows will get ₹1000.
– The government has doubled collateral-free loans to ₹20 lakh to 63 lakh SHGs that help around 85 crore households.
Poverty line
– Population below the poverty line that is about 8.3 crore families will get free LPG cylinders for three months.
– For the next three months, the government of India will pay the EPF contribution, both to the employee and employer (12% each). Mainly, this is for the establishment that has up to 100 employees, with 90% of them earning less than 15,000.
– For the organised sector, EPFO Scheme’s regulations will be amended to allow the non-refundable advance of 75% of the amount standing to the credit of the worker or three month’s wages, whichever is lower. It is estimated that this will benefit 4.8 crores workers who are registered with EPF and in a position to withdraw money.
EPF
Now the scheme has been extended for three more months that is till August, 2020. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that for the next three months EPF. Or employee provident fund contribution will be 10% each for employees and employers. As compared to the statutory obligation of 12%. She further stated that central public sector enterprises and state PSUs, will continue to pay 12%. Employees in these PSUs will be given the advantage of paying only 10%. Several other measures are being taken to fight against COVID-19 amid lockdown and to make Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
– Jan Dhan account holders that are around 20 crore woman. Will be given ex-gratia amount of ₹500 per month for the next three months. To run the affairs of their households.
At last, let us tell you that the scheme comes into effect immediately. People will start getting benefits from the scheme from 1 April, 2020.
So, these are the ‘Garib Kalyan Packages’ announced on the second day of the lockdown. By the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the poor and needy. To benefit daily wage workers to fight against economic distress
