NEW DELHI : In the second tranche of Covid-19 special package, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the migrant workers, farmers, street vendors and tribal people are in the focus under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Sitharaman said, “Today’s initiatives focus on migrant workers, street vendors, small traders, self-employed people and small farmers.”
She announced a scheme for free foodgrain supply to all migrants for next two months. They will be given five kg wheat or rice per individuals, one kg of pulse, one kg of gram (chana) even if a migrant worker does not have a BPL card.
“We think there are 8 crore migrants who will get free food. The Centre will bear the cost. They will not be charged anything. The total cost of this scheme is estimated at Rs 3,500 crore. This will reach through the state governments. The state governments will be the implementing agencies,” Sitharaman said.
She unveiled “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme under which a migrant worker having a BPL card from any state will be applicable across the country. This will be done through ration card portability. She said this scheme will be implemented by March next year.
Under the special Covid-19 package, Sitharaman also unveiled an “affordable rental housing scheme” for the migrant workers. This will be done through PM Awas Yojana. New housing complexes could be developed by private players, whom the government will incentivise, Sitharaman said.(India Today)