Nirmala Sitharaman’s Announcement From Press Conference Today

The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today addressed a press conference at 1 pm. This media brief was her second address this week. The announcements made during the press conference were especially dedicated to the urban-rural poor and daily-waged laborers.

Highlights of Nirmala Sitharaman’s press conference :

2:12 pm: Banking services are now a part of the essential services and will remain operational all throughout the lockdown as Direct Benefit Transfers will put a lot of pressure on banks: FM

2:07 pm: Today’s measures are aimed at people who are immediate need for food, money and cooking gas: FM Sitharaman.

2:05 pm: These announcements will be implemented immediately: FM Sitharaman.

2:01 pm: I request state governments to utilize district mineral funds for coronavirus testing and medicines: FM Sitharaman

1:58 pm: Workers’ welfare fund of Rs 31,000 crore will be utilized for construction workers. We are planning to direct state governments to assist 3.5 crore construction workers to this end: FM Sitharaman

1:53 pm: This will help in benefiting 4.8 crore workers — The PF scheme regulations will be amended due to coronavirus and will allow employees to draw non-refundable advance of 75 percent of amount standing to credit or three months wages, whichever is lower: FM Sitharaman

1:50 pm: Under Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan, the government will pay the EPF contribution for both employer and employee for the next 3 months. This is for establishments with up to 100 employees where 90 percent earn less than Rs 15,000 per month: FM Sitharaman

1:48 pm: Under National Rural Livelihood Mission scheme collateral loans will be doubled to Rs 20 lakh for women: FM Sitharaman

1:45 pm: Ujjwala Scheme women will be given free cylinders for the next 3 months. This will benefit 8.3 crore BPL families: FM Sitharaman

1:44 pm: Women Jan Dhan account holders will receive Rs 500 in their accounts so that they can take care of their households. This will happen for the next 3 months: FM

1:42 pm: The Finance Minister said that 8.69 crore farmers will be immediately benefited through Direct cash transfers. Installment of Rs 2000 in the first week of April will be transferred.

1:40 pm: Per person 5kg rice or 5kg wheat for free for 3 months will be given; 1kg of pulse per household as per regional preference: FM Sitharaman

1:39 pm: Rs 2,000 to be transferred in the first week of April to farmers: FM Sitharaman

1:38 pm: Cash transfer to benefit

1. Farmer:

2.MNREGA

3.Widows/Pensioners

4. Jan Dhan Yojana

5. Ujwala Scheme

6. Self Help Women Groups

7. Organized Sector Workers (EPFO)/ Construction workers

1:35 pm: The Finance Minister Sitharaman announces 5kg of rice or wheat-free of cost for the needy.

1:30 pm: “No one will go hungry. The Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Scheme package is worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore”: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

1:26 pm: Finance Minister thanks all the front line workers and expresses her gratitude to ASHA workers, doctors, sanitary workers, para-medics. She announces an insurance cover for them of Rs 50 lakh per person.

1:20 pm: The government is working to help those who are affected, especially migrant workers. We have come with a welfare package to help the poor and the ones who need immediate help: FM Sitharaman.

12:40 pm: Ministry of Finance announced that the Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman will hold a press conference at 1 pm