Women Jan Dhan account holders to get ₹500 per month for next 3 months

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched in August 2014 with the objective to provide universal access to banking facilities to the people of the country.

The government will also provide free LPG cylinders to women beneficiaries under the Ujjawala scheme, she stated. The decision will benefit 8.3 crore families, which fall under below the poverty line (BPL). This, she said, will be done to ensure that they do not run short of the cooking medium.

Here are some highlights of the announcement:

Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojna for next 3 months which will cover 80 crores: 

1) FOR HEALTH WORKERS

To protect the interest of health workers, the government announced Rs 50 lakh insurance per health worker. Nirmala Sitharaman said safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists and other health workers will be covered by this special insurance scheme.

“Any health professional who while treating Covid-19 patients meets with some accident, then he/she would also be compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme,” as per the announcement.

Besides this, all government health centers, wellness centers and hospitals of the Centre as well as state governments will be covered under this scheme. Under this scheme, approximately 22 lakh health workers would be provided insurance cover to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

2) FOR POOR

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that daily wages under the MNREGA have been increased to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182. This will benefit nearly 5 crore families, Sitharaman said

And as per today’s announcement, 80 crore poor people will get 5 kg of wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months. This will be provided under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana. Which will over and above the free ration that they already get under other schemes at present.

Besides this, under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, gas cylinders will be provided free of cost to 8 crore poor families for the next three months. During this period, a maximum of three gas cylinders will be provided.

3) FOR FARMERS

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (the yojana has been announced today), farmers will be given Rs 2,000 in April. The government estimates that this would cover 8.7 crore families. The total amount distributed is estimated to be Rs 16,000 crore.

4) DIRECT CASH TRANSFER

A total of 20.40 crores PM JAN Dhan Yojana women account-holders will be given ex-gratia of Rs 500 per month for the next three months.

“This will help them run their household during this difficult period. For this purpose, the Government of India will spend Rs 31000 crores,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

5) FOR LOW WAGE EARNERS

Low wage earners in the unorganized sector are among the worst hit due to the lockdown and this resultant economic crisis. To help people who fall under this category, the government has decided to pay 24 percent of their monthly wages into their Provident Fund accounts for the next three months.

“Wage-earners who get Rs15, 000 per month in those businesses, which has had less than 100 workers, are at risk of losing their employment,” the government said adding that the assistance would help prevent “disruption in their employment”.

Also read: Finance Minister today’s live update brief: Check the details of Important announcement