Measures taken by govt to mitigate hit on economy amid pandemic

With the entire world on a war footing with the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Government of India has taken some extreme measures to limit the human cost and economic disruption amid pandemic. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan are some of the schemes initiate by the government.

Hyderabad: The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus is challenging governments to act in ways normally reserved for war, depressions, and natural disasters.

The pandemic has caused global upheaval that may still endure for months. Governments are taking extreme measures to limit the human cost and economic disruption.

It is the most consequential set of public policy and mass behaviour change actions most of us have seen in our lifetimes.

Here are some initiatives taken by the government to mitigate the problems arising out due to COVID-19. This data was also presented by the Ministry of Rural Development in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)

In March, the government had announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against coronavirus.

According to the Ministry of Rural Development, there are two components under the package.

first, to provide ex-gratia of Rs.1000 in two instalments (Rs.500/- each) to the existing old age, widow and disabled/Divyangjan beneficiaries of the schemes of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).

The NSAP Division timely released a total of Rs. 2814.50 crore as ex-gratia to States/UTs in April 2020 as the first tranche and in May 2020 as the second tranche under PMGKY for the existing 282 lakh beneficiaries of NSAP schemes.

Second, Cash transfer of Rs 500 into the accounts of 20 crore PMJDY Account holders every month for three months. The total amount of Rs 30,944.61 crore has been transferred.

Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his fifth address to India since the nation-wide lockdown, had announced a financial package of Rs 20 lakh crore to ease the coronavirus distress.

The package was announced under ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ to revive the Indian economy.

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA)

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) was launched by the Prime Minister on June 20, across 116 districts in six selected states with the provision of Rs 50,000 crores to provide livelihood opportunities to rural citizens.

An expenditure of approx Rs 24 crore has been incurred in these districts till September 13.

MGNREGA Budget increased by Rs 40,000 crore

The government has made an increase in allocation for MGNREGS by Rs 40,000 crores to overcome COVID-19 crises provisioning income through wage employment.

A total of 184 core person days have been generated so far in the current FY 2020-21.

There has also been a hike in wages for manual workers under MGNREGA from Rs 182 to Rs 202 per day in FY20-21.