Coronavirus:FM announces Rs 1.7 lakh cr package for poor affected by lockdown

Coronavirus:FM announces Rs 1.7 lakh cr package for poor affected by lockdown

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on thursday stated the government is planning to provide a relief package of Rs 1.7 lacs crore to the underprivileged,poor and migrant workers affected by the lockdown amid COVID-19 outbreak.The Scheme has been named Pradhan Mantri Garib kalyan Scheme.

She also said that workers-like nurses,paramedics and sanitation staff-who were in the frontline of the war against the disease,will be provided medical insurance cover of Rs 50 lacs per person.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on tuesday announced a 21 day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of coronavirus,saying that Social Distancing is the only option to deal with the disease,which spreads rapidly.