PM Garib Kalyan! Centre, states transfer Rs 28,000 crores, half of it under existing PM Kisan Samman scheme

Finance ministry Saturday said that it has transferred a total Rs 28,256 crores to 31.77 crore accounts by April 10. However, out of the total transfer of Rs 28,256 crores, only 40% or Rs 11,335 crores is the new transfer by the Centre under the PM Garib Kalyan scheme. And nearly half of it, Rs 13,855 crore, was transferred under an existing scheme – PM Kisan Samman Nidhi that the Prime Mininster Narendra Modi had announced ahead of crucial Lok Sabha elections last year.

New Delhi:The Union government and states have completed transfer of over Rs 28,000 crores to nearly 32 crore bank accounts till Friday as part of Rs 1.7 lakh crore PM Garib Kalyan Scheme. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had last month announced the scheme to insulate nearly two-third of the country’s population during the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

The highly contagious virus has killed more than 240 people in the country so far and over 1.03 lakh people around the world in just three months. Prime Minister Modi last month announced a complete 21-day lock-down to slow down the spread of the virus in the country that brought the economic activity to a grinding halt, necessitating the announcement of a relief package to cushion the poor people from the global pandemic's adverse impact.

Finance ministry Saturday said that it has transferred a total Rs 28,256 crores to 31.77 crore accounts by April 10.

However, out of the total transfer of Rs 28,256 crores, only 40% or Rs 11,335 crores is the new transfer by the Centre under the PM Garib Kalyan scheme. And nearly half of it, Rs 13,855 crore, was transferred under an existing scheme – PM Kisan Samman Nidhi that the Prime Mininster Narendra Modi had announced ahead of crucial Lok Sabha elections last year.

And remaining 11% or Rs 3,066 crore was paid by States from a fund managed for building and construction workers.

Scheme-wise transfers

The total transfers this month include the payment of Rs 500 to each of 19.86 crore women PM Jan Dhan account holders, taking the total transfer under this head to 9,930 crore.

The government said it covered 97% of the total eligible beneficiaries.

In addition to this, the Union government also transferred Rs 500 each to 2.82 crore beneficiaries that included aged widows, poor senior citizens and disabled persons. The government had announced that it would transfer Rs 1,000, in two installments of Rs 500 each, over the next three months to these beneficiaries to reduce their pain during this time of crisis.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi transfers

The government also completed transfer of Rs 13,855 crore to 6.93 crore farmers under the existing PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of crucial Lok Sabha election last year.

This transfer forms the biggest chunk, 49% of the total cash transfers made under the PM Garib Kalyan scheme so far.

Following his record consecutive victory in May 2019, Prime Minister Modi had expanded the scheme to cover a total 12 crore farmers in the country, as against the pre-election announcement of 10 crore farmers.

However, the latest data shows that the scheme's coverage is around two-third, more than a year after its roll out in February 2019.

Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, the government transfers Rs 6,000 per year, in three installments of Rs 2,000 each, to nearly 8 crore farmers to help them buy seed, fertiliser and other input material, among other things.

The scheme was considered crucial in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's record consecutive win.

Under the PM Garib Kalyan Scheme, the government has also included the amount already earmarked for the first installment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi by releasing it early this month.

States release Rs 3,066 crore to construction workers

In addition to this, the Union government has also asked States to utilise the fund available with them under Construction Worker Welfare Fund.

On Saturday, finance ministry reported that States have completed the transfer of Rs 3,066 crores to 2.16 crore registered construction workers.

No clarity over actual number of beneficiaries

In a graphics, the finance ministry gave scheme wise details of number of bank accounts where the money under PM Garib Kalyan package has been transferred. It included women Jan Dhan account holders (19.86 crore), widow, senior citizens, disabled persons (2.82 crore), farmer beneficiaries (6.93 crore) and construction workers (2.16) crores, taking the total number of beneficiary bank accounts to 31.77 crore.

However, it has not given the actual number of beneficiaries after removing the overlapping beneficiaries who may have received benefits under more than one scheme.

(Article by Krishnanand Tripathi)