Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces free food grains for migrant labourers for 2 months

Unveiling the 2nd tranche of massive Rs 20 lakh crore Covid 19 economic stimulus package, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a number of measures for migrant labourers on Thursday evening, while emphasizing on the fact that the government is committed to help them during the tough phase. The finance minister said that migrants will be provided free food grain for the next two months. All the migrants will get 5kg of wheat and rice per person for the next two months along with 1kg of channa. The implementation of this will be done by the state governments.

She said that MNREGA scheme will be used to generate employment for migrant labourers. She said that till May 13, 14.62 crore person-days of work has been generated.

The finance minister said that actual expenditure till date on this is around Rs 10,000 crore. She added that the enrolments under the scheme have grown by 40 to 50 per cent as compared to last year. A drive is being conducted to enrol the returning migrants so that they can get employment in their states. The government has also asked states and UTs to provide works to migrant workers as per the provisions of the Act.

Speaking about the support provided to migrants over the last months, the finance minister said that the government permitted state governments to utilise SDRF for setting up shelter for migrants. She said that the Central government also released Rs 11002 crore of its contribution in advance to all States on April 3. 

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The finance minister started her speech by informing that today’s announcements will focus on nine areas: three for migrant workers, one for shishu loan within mudra, one for street vendors, one for housing, one for employment generations largely for tribals and two for small farmers. “Today's tranche focuses on migrant labourers, street vendors, the self-employed, small traders and small farmers,” she said.

The government on Wednesday announced about Rs 6 lakh crore package, including Rs 3 lakh crore of collateral-free loans for small businesses and a Rs 30,000 crore lifeline to non-bank and housing finance companies as part of measures to help the economy tide over disruptions caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

Also, it cut the tax rate on non-salary payments by 25 per cent, extended support to companies to meet statutory liability on employees' retirement fund, provided a Rs 90,000 crore bailout to cash-starved electricity distribution companies and gave construction firms up to six more months to complete the government projects.