Sitharaman announces free foodgrains for 8 crore migrant workers for 2 months

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (May 14) announced free foodgrains for an estimated 8 crore migrant workers for next two months at a cost of ₹3,500 crore.

Announcing the second tranche of economic stimulus package, she said 8 crore migrant workers who do not have either central or state PDS card, will get 5 kilogram of grains per person and 1 kilogram of chana for two months.

Furthermore, PDS ration cards will be made portable, allowing migrant workers to use their ration cards across states, she said, adding that this would benefit 67 crore beneficiaries or 83% of PDS beneficiaries, in 23 states by August.

By March 2021, 100% coverage under One Nation One Ration Card will be done, she added.

₹10,000-crore job work offered under MNREGS to migrant workers: Sitharaman

Sitharaman also said ₹10,000 crore has been spent in the last two months on creating 14.62 crore man-days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to help migrant workers.

Announcing the second tranche of economic stimulus package, she said the work has been offered to 2.33 crore wage seekers till May 13. About 40-50% more persons have been enrolled as compared to May last year, she said.

On reforms in pipeline, she said the government supports the universal right to minimum wages and wants to remove regional disparity through a national floor wage.