03. DR.T.SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN &
SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:
Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:
(a) Whether the Government has released amount for the various States to Combat Covid-19 crisis since 24th March, 2020;
(b) If so, the details thereof State-wise;
(c) Whether the Government has provided cash for the poor downdtrodden people during the lockdown period; and
(d) If so, the details thereof, State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE
(SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)
(a)to (b): Yes, Sir. Keeping in view the Covid-19 Pandemic, Government of India released the 1st instalment of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) amounting to Rs 11,092 crore to State Governments on 03/04/2020 in advance to strengthen the States to deal with the pandemic. State wise details of the funds released is at Annexure-I. Further, State Governments have been allowed additional borrowing limit of up to 2 percent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSPD) for the year 2020-21. As against the additional borrowing limit of 2% of GSDP, consent for borrowing of 0.50 percent of GSDP amounting to Rs.1,06,830 crore has already been issued to the States to raise Open Market Borrowing (OMB) during the year 2020-21. State-wise details of additional borrowing of 0.5 percent of GSDP issued to the State for the year 2020-21 is enclosed at Annexure-II.
(c) to (d) : Yes, Sir. As part of the Rs 1.70 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package, the Government has announced free food grains and cash payment to women and poor senior citizens and farmers. Around 42 crore poor people have received financial assistance of Rs 68,820 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package. Among these, Rs 30,962 crores have been credited to the 20.65 crore (100%) women Jan Dhan account holders in three instalments. Rs 2,814.5 crore have been disbursed in two instalments to about 2.81 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons. Rs 17,891 crore have been front loaded towards payment of the first instalment of PM-KISAN to 8.94 crore beneficiaries. 1.82 crore building & construction workers have received financial support amounting to Rs 4,987.18 crores. 36.05 lakh members of EPFO have taken benefit of online withdrawal of non-refundable advance from EPFO account amounting to Rs. 9,543 crores. 178.85 lakh MT of food grains and 6.82 lakh MT of pulses have been distributed free of cost to approx. 75 crores beneficiaries. Details of the Package are at Annexure - III. State/UT-wise details of beneficiaries and amount disbursed is at the Annexure IV (a) & IV (b).
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