Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, in her final tranche on Rs 20 lakh crore economic package, said that 20 crore Jan Dhan account holding women have received Rs 10,025 crores in their accounts so far.
“2.2 crore building and construction workers have received Rs 3,950 crores. 6.81 crore people got free LPG cylinders and 12 lakh EPFO holders got online withdrawal of advance,” she said.
The finance minister said that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package used technology to do direct benefit transfer to people.
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“We could do what we did because of the initiatives taken during the last few years,” she said.
One-time transfer of Rs 2,000 has reached 8.19 crore farmers - a total amount Rs 16,394 crore, Sitharaman said.
“NSAP beneficiaries got Rs 1,405 crore in first the instalment and Rs 1,402 crore in the second instalment, target of Rs 3,000 crore nearly achieved,” Sitharaman stated on Sunday.
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{{/usCountry}}Also read: FM Sitharaman gives a break-up of govt’s stimulus package
{{/usCountry}}Sitharaman announced that the Centre has allocated an additional amount of Rs 40 thousand crores under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
She also said that various have been taken to enhance the ‘ease of doing business’ in the country.
Technology-driven education will be the focus now, she said, adding that PM eVIDYa programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education will be launched.
“Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by May 30, 2020,” Sitharaman said.
The finance minister said that the government will increase its healthcare expenditure.
“Investment at the grassroots level will be ramped up for health and wellness centres with particular focus on aspirational districts. All districts will have infectious diseases block in hospitals. Public health labs will be set up at block levels,” Sitharaman announced.