Pradhanmantri Garib Kalyan Yojana: 39-cr poor received Rs 34,800-cr financial assistance under PMGKP

Pradhanmantri Garib Kalyan Yojana: In a bid to ensure the welfare of the poor during Coronavirus lockdown, the Narendra Modi Government has been taking various welfare steps under the Pradhanmantri Garib Kalyana Package or PMGKP. Under this package, the Central Government has so far given financial assistance of Rs 34,800 crore by reaching out to near 39 crore poor till 5th May 2020.

Out of these Rs 34,800 crore financial assistance, Rs 10,025 crore credited to 20.05 crore (98.33%) women Jan Dhan account holders as first installment. The number of women PMJDY accounts holders whose accounts have been debited by customer induced transaction is 8.72 crore (44%). Rs. 2,785 crore credited to 5.57 crore women Jan Dhan account holders with second installment as on 5th May. Rs 16,394 crore front loaded towards payment of the first installment of PM-KISAN to 8.19 crore beneficiaries and Rs 1405 crore disbursed to about 2.82 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons. Benefits transferred to all 2.812 crore beneficiaries. Total 5.09 crore  Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) cylinders have been booked under this scheme so far and 4.82 crore PMUY free cylinders already delivered to beneficiaries.

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For Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers, 9.6 Lakh members of EPFO has taken benefit of online withdrawal of non-refundable advance from EPFO account amounting to Rs 2, 985 crore. 24 per cent EPF contribution transferred to 44.97 Lakh employees account amounting to Rs 698 crore.

The Ministry of Finance informed about such financial assistance number through a press statement saying, "Using the digital payment infrastructure, around 39 crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 34,800 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) as on 5th May,2020, announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 26th March,2020 to protect them from the impact of the lockdown due to COVID 19."
 
The press statement further added, "As part of the PMGKP, the Government announced free food grains and cash payment to women and poor senior citizens and farmers. The swift implementation of the package is being continuously monitored by Central and State governments. Finance Ministry, the concerned Ministries, Cabinet Secretariat and PMO are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the relief measures reach the needy swiftly and in line with the intent of the lock down."

Fintech and digital technology have been employed for swift and efficient transfer to the beneficiary. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), i.e. transfer that ensures that the amount is directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency has been employed. This has also ensured credit to the beneficiary’s account without the need for the beneficiary to physically go to the branch.