'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package' an initiative to reach a weaker section

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced a countrywide lockdown on March 25 to control the spreading of pandemic COVID-19 in India. Along with this announcement comes the question that how to reach to the weaker sections of people who earn their livelihood on daily basis work.

To cope up with the situation Rs 1.70-lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) was announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 26 to protect such people from the impact of the lockdown. As part of the PMGKP, the Government announced free food grains and cash payment to women and poor senior citizens and farmers of the country.

One of such beneficiary is Radharani Sarkar (62), a widow residing at Lal Ganesh in Guwahati. She got the message on her phone that her Jan Dhan Account has been credited with Rs. 500. In this gloomy time this financial help brings a smile on her face because she knows that during this period of lockdown she can buy some essential food items for her family. She is thankful to the PM and his generosity for understanding the plight of the weaker section of the people.

Another beneficiary Sumitra Karmakar (56) years from Fatasil, Ambari in Guwahati got the message that her Jan Dhan Account is credited with Rs 500. There are many similar instances coming from different areas of the city where people are getting the benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package. According to the sources in the Ministry of Finance as on 13th April, 2020 the total disbursement under Jan Dhan Account is Rs. 9,930 crore. As most of households in India are largely managed by the women, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package, as many as 19.86 crore women Jan Dhan account holders received Rs 500 each in their account. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) disbursed about Rs. 1,400 crore to about 2.82 crore old-age pensions, widows and disabled persons. Each beneficiary received an ex gratia cash of Rs 500 under the schemes as the first installment. Another installment of Rs 500 each will be paid next month.

To reach maximum number of beneficiary under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, digital technology have been employed for swift and efficient transfer. Direct benefit transfer, i.e. transfer that ensures that the amount is directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency has been employed. As on 13th April, 2020, 32.32 crore beneficiaries have been directly given cash support through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) amounting to Rs 29,352 crore under the package. (PIB)

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