Thread by @SwarajyaMag

Today's presser focusses on migrant workers, street vendors, traders, self-employed people, small farmers, and employment generation for tribals. Many measures to be announced today will overlap with additional measures that will follow later: FM @nsitharaman

In the second set of announcements, 3 major measures for migrants, 1 for street vendors, 1 for the housing sector, 1 for the employment generation for tribals, and 2 for small farmers to be announced. The measures will overlap with additional measures that will follow: FM

Credit for farmers interest subvention for existing loans has been extended till May 31, 2020.

22 lakh new kisan credit cards have also been sanctioned.

3 Crore farmers with agricultural loans of Rs. 4.22 Lakh Crore availed the benefit of the 3 months loan moratorium.

63 Lakh loans have been approved in agriculture sector between March 1 and April 30. Refinancing of Rs. 29,500 Crore provided by NABARD via rural banks.

Given the virus outbreak, for the urban poor, including migrants Rs 11,000 Crore by the Centre sent to states to to set up shelter for migrants and provide food and water. The government has been working for the welfare of the urban poor for the last two months: FM @nsitharaman

Support of Rs. 4,200 Crore provided under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to states during March, 2020 for rural infrastructure. Working capital limit of Rs. 6,700 Crore sanctioned for procurement of agricultural produce to State government entities since March 2020.

A note on Self Help Groups

12,000 SHGs produced 3 Crore masks and 1.20 Lakh litres of sanitisers, boosting employment for urban poor. 7,200 new SHGs of urban poor have been formed since 15th March 2020.

Disbursal of Revolving Fund (RF) to Self Help Groups was on-boarded on PAISA portal in April 2020 in a pilot basis in Gujarat and is now being rolled across all other states starting May 2020.

FM @nsitharaman speaks about additional reforms in the pipeline. These include reofmrd on Labour Codes and workers' welfare, Universal right to minimum wages, Removing regional disparity in minimum wage, and introducing National floor wage.

Other reforms in the pipeline: Benefits for interstate migrant workers, Portability of welfare benefits for migrant workers, Mandatory ESIC coverage for employees of hazardous industries, Social security schemes for gig workers. FM calls gig workers a necessary urban phenomenon.

We have already generated 14.62 crore person-days of work till 13th May, which is 40-50% more persons enrolled as compared to last May. Migrant workers going back to their states being actively enrolled: FM @nsitharaman

Free food grains for migrants for next 2 months. This will benefit 8 crore migrants.

The Central govt will spend Rs 3,500 crore.

For non-ration card holders, free 5 kgs per family of wheat/rice and 1 kg chana to be given.

State governments in charge of this initiative

BIG

One Nation, One Ration Card:

Now card-holders can use their ration cards in any ration shop in any part of the country. 63 crore beneficiaries in 23 states will get covered by August 2020.
100% coverage aimed for March 2021.

BIG.

Affordable rental accommodation for urban poor. Govt to launch, under PM Awas Yojana, rental housing scheme.

Incentivising manufacturing units to build on their private compounds
To also use empty government land to build more housing units.

Mudra Programme:

Shishu loan within the Mudra programme to have Interest subvention support of 2%, extended to all shishu loan holders (loans up to Rs 50,000.

For street vendors, worst hit by the lockdown, the government announces a special credit facility of Rs 5,000 crores for 50 lakh vendors. The scheme will be launched within a month with an initial working capital of up to Rs 10,000. Digital payments will also be encouraged.

Affordable Housing Credit link subsidy scheme extended up to March, 2021.

For the middle-income groups (income of up to 6-18 lakh/annum). This will help construction services and aid demand for building materials. 3.3 lakh families have benefited until now under this scheme.

Employment creation under CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016) to be taken up by the government.

Proposals worth Rs 6,000 crore have been received by Centre, and focus to be on employment for adivasis and tribals for forestry related work.

Kisan Credit Card: Rs 2 lakh crore concessional credit will be extended to 2.5 crore farmers who don't have the card. Fisherman and animal husbandry workers to also be included.

Additional Rs 30,000 crore to be released via NABARD for Rabi-related work and prep work for Kharif.