Centre announced Rs 170,000 cr relief package for weaker sections. Medical insurance for health staff, ‘Asha’ cleaning staff engaged in fight against coronavirus pandemic
New Delhi, March 26, 2020 (IANS) The Centre on Thursday announced a Rs 170,000 crore worth of relief package to protect the weaker sections of the society from the economic fallout of COVID-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. She also announced that doctors, paramedics, nurses, ‘Asha’ workers, cleaning workers involved in the fight against coronavirus pandemic and treating affected patients would be extended medical insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh each.
Medical insurance for healthcare staff, ASHA
Addressing the media here, Sitharaman said that the scheme will help 20 lakh health professionals and wrokers across the country, in case they want to avail it.
She applauded the role played by doctors and other workers in the health sector and said that they are being called ‘gods in white attire’ by the public and coronavirus- affected patients alike.
The measures may come as a major relief for the health workers who put their lives at stake while treating coronavirus patients. Several doctors across the world, including India, have been infected by the deadly virus.
Relief Package under PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana
The Minister also announced an economic relief package of Rs 170,000 crore for the poor and migrant workers under the PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana.
The package focuses on providing food to the poor and money in their hands to overcome the problems in the wake of Covid-19 spread. She said that the scheme involves direct cash transfer and food security.
Announcing the relief package, the Finance Minister said the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana will benefit migrant workers and rural poor and the women.
The minister said the scheme will work via direct cash transfer, as one set of measures, while another set will include food security-related measures.
“We do not want anyone to remain hungry, so we will be giving enough to take care of their foodgrain requirement, protein requirement in terms of pulses,” the minister said.
“On the other hand, they should also not remain without money in hand. So several measures through DBT are being taken so that money reaches them so that they can have money in their hands.”
