Thread by @someshjha7

FM @nsitharaman begins her press conference on the next set of announcements related to #COVID19 economic package.

Today's initiatives focuses on migrant workers, street vendors, small traders, self-employed people, small farmers. Will announce 9 steps today: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

There will be more announcements related to farmers in the coming days. Today I am announcing just two measures: FM

Within hours of announcing the lockdown, the PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana was launched for the poor and that's not enough. We will do more. We are announcing more. Don't look it in silos: FM

First I should tell you that about 3 crore (30 million) farmers availed loans given to them at concessional rates. It was a direct support to farmers. Those 3 crore farmers had availed of agri loans which were over Rs 4 lakh crore (Rs trillion): FM

25 lakh new kisan credit cards have been given in last 2 months which entails that they can take concessional credit. Those new credit card holders have also been given loans which totals Rs 25,000 crore. These are recent happenings. Govt was not sitting quiet during lockdown: FM

I want to draw your attention to the fact that 63 lakh (6.3 million) loans worth Rs 86,600 crore (Rs 866 bn) have been approved in agriculture sector between 1 March and 30 April. Refinancing of Rs 29,500 crore provided by NABARD in March so that there is onward lending: FM

In last 2 months, during COVID period, we reached out to urban poor, including migrants. It has permitted states to utilise state disaster response funds to set up shelter for migrants and provide them food and water. Rs 11,000 cr were sent for this purpose from the Centre: FM

There are shelter homes which are under the shelter for urban homeless category. But in those shelter for urban homeless, 3 meals are provided entirely at the cost of the central government. We are conscious and attending to migrants: FM

During these 2 months, 12,000 self help groups have produced 3 crore masks and 1.20 lakh litres of sanitizers. 7,200 new self help groups of urban poor have been formed during the period starting 15 March 2020: FM

There is a concern related to migrant workers going back to their home states. We have already generated 14.62 crore mandays of work up to 13th May which is actually 40-50% more persons who have got enrolled compared to last May: FM

Migrant workers who are going back and joining MGNREGA are being actively enrolled. States and UTs have been advised to provide work to these migrant workers as per provisions of the MGNREG Act: FM

On MGNREGS support, FM says actual expenditure till date has been around Rs 10,000 crore. Work offered to 2.33 crore wage workers as of yesterday in 1.87 lakh gram panchayats.

Labour codes are in the Parliament and with the standing committees. We are committed to making it better for workers and their welfare is on top of our agenda: FM

We want to give the right to minimum wages universal to all workers: FM

We are trying to get over disparity on minimum wages through a national floor level wage: FM

We are going to make annual health check up and appointment letters for workers compulsory: FM

We want to have a definition of inter-state migrant workers. This will help defining them better. All this is in Parliament. So this is not part of the package. But want to insist we want to make better working conditions for workers: FM

We are looking at re-skilling of retrenched workers, especially in the light of #COVID19. All occupations should open for night work for women with adequate safeguards. Gratuity to be given to fixed-term employees: FM

Finally, government to announce today's announcements.

Free food grain to be supplied to all migrants for next 2 months. Those who are non-card holders will be given 5 kg per person wheat or rice and 1 kg chana per family per month. About 8 crore (80 million) migrants will be benefited with an expenditure of Rs 3500 crore: FM

ONE NATION, ONE RATION CARD

In order to benefit migrant workers, we are coming up with a national portability of public distribution cards that can be used in any part of the country. If the worker is in Bihar and moves to Rajasthan that person can take ration there: FM

Govt will launch, under the PM Awas Yojana, affordable rental housing scheme for migrant workers or urban poor. We will be incentivising manufacturing units, industries and associations to build affordable housing complex on their private land. Will be done through PPP mode: FM

An interest subvention support of 2% for Sishu loan accounts (up to Rs 50,000) under the Mudra scheme for 12 months. It will benefit about 3 crore people. Expected relief amount Rs 1,500 crore: FM

Special credit facility of Rs 5,000 crore for street vendors as their livelihood have been affected. Within a month, the govt will launch the special scheme which will help 50 lakh street vendors. Once lockdown is lifted, they can start their business back: FM

A credit-linked subsidy scheme of 2017 for affordable housing is being extended up to March, 2021. 3.3 lakh families have benefited till now. 2.5 lakh more will benefit.

This is for the lowest strata of the middle income group, with Rs 6 lakh-Rs 18 lakh annual family income: FM

The CAMPA funds lying in various states have been given a push. Rs 6,000 crore worth project proposals have come from states and being approved in 10 days. It will generate employment for tribals and adivasis for afforestation, forest protection related infra and so on: FM

We are providing a Rs 30,000 crore additional emergency working capital fund through the NABARD for farmers. This is a refinance support which NABARD gives. You may ask me if this is new? NABARD does it even now. But we are putting in additional Rs 30,000 crore: FM

This fund is particularly for small and marginal farmers. It will benefit 3 crore (30 million) farmers: FM

Rs 2 lakh crore (Rs 2 trillion) concessional credit for 2.5 crore (25 million) farmers through kisan credit cards. Fishermen and animal husbandry farmers will also be included in this. It will give them access to institutional credit at concessional rate: FM

"Yes, there are people suffering and going severe constrains. PM requested please stay where they are, we understand their movement nevertheless. In this entire COVID19 related response, I thank media for highlighting the concerns": FM

FM to take questions now.

On portability of PDS card, FM says "a card holder will be able to draw on the remaining PDS from other states if the worker's family has already withdrawn a part of it in the home state."

The modalities for extending help to street vendors will be worked out: FM

This govt is concerned about the migrants. Even today unfortunately we see migrants with families and children walking on the roads. The Union govt has definitely worked together with state governments to provide train facilities the moment we were ready for it: FM

The Railways have already run 806 Shramik special trains in which 10 lakh migrant workers have gone to their respective destinations. UP has accepted 386 trains, Bihar has accepted 204 trains and MP 67 trains: FM

Jharkhand has taken 44, Rajasthan 18, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal 7 trains. As soon as request comes from the states, we are trying to facilitate train services: FM

The 44 labour laws will be condensed into 4 codes. Through the Parliamentary process, the labour codes will come for implementation: FM

There is a tug at my heart watching the migrants walk, FM @nsitharaman says, while discussing ways in which the Central govt is helping states to provide them food and other facilities.

- Press conference ends - (apologies for a late alert)