COVID-19: FM Sitharaman announces Rs. 50 lakh as insurance for health workers 

"The insurance of Rs. 50 lakh to each health worker who is fighting from the front line," Sitharaman said.  

Sitharaman said all poor people will get 5 kg of wheat or rice and 1 kg of dal for free for the next three months. 

All these will come from "Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Scheme".

Rs 1,70,000 crore has been allocated for the scheme. 

Sitharaman said, "We have taken the steps so that no one remains hungry."

All announcements will be effective on an immediate basis. 

Sitharaman also said eight lakh farmers will get Rs. 2,000 to their bank accounts. 

Sitharaman on Thursday announced a wage increase of Rs. 20 for MNREGA workers. 

One-time ex-gratia of additional Rs. 1000 will be given to poor senior citizens who are widowed, diyang and disable. 

"Almost 3 crore people will benefited from the ex-gratia," said Ministry of State for Finance Anurag Thakur. 

"Women Jan Dhan account holders will be getting an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 500 per month for the next three months," said Sitharaman and added, "This will benefit 20 crore women."

Nearly 8 crore BPL families who avail Ujwala scheme will get free gas cylinders for the next 3 months. "This is expected to benefit 8.3 crore BPL families," said the Finance Minister. 

Announcements for organised sector

Sitharaman said, "Govt of India will pay the EPF contribution both of the employer and employee (24 per cent together) for the next 3 months so that nobody suffers. This is for all companies which have upto 100 employees with 90 per cent of them drawing less than Rs. 15,000 as salaries each."

"The EPF schemes regulations will be amended to allow workers to draw 75% of the amount (non-refundable) or three months wages which ever is lesser. This will benefit 4.8 crore who are registered with the EPF," she said. 

Announcement for construction workers

We intend to give direction to the state governments to protect the construction workers from any economic disruptions. 

"Due to the lockdown, many building and construction workers are at home. So they may be feeling the economic disruption. So I want the state government to utilise the welfare fund of Rs. 31,000 crore for building and construction workers to help them," Sitharaman said. 

Announcement for Mineral Fund

"We will request the state governments to utilise the District Mineral Fund for medical activities and testing activities so that the health attention will not suffer," said the Finance Minister.