Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces last tranche of stimulus package: Highlights

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday addressed the media to announce the last tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package aimed to rescue a struggling economy whose woes have been augmented by the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are the highlights of Sitharaman’s address:

Finance minister announces measures under seven segments

The seven segments are: MGNREGS; Health – rural and urban, including education; businesses and Covid-19; decriminalization of Companies Act; ease of doing business; state governments & resources related to state governments; public sector enterprises.

MGNREGS—Additional ₹ 40,000 crore to be allocated to MNREGS to create additional jobs in the rural sector. A lot of workers have gone back to their villages, this will ensure that those wishing to enrol into MNREGA can be provided jobs.

HEALTH—Health reforms and initiatives have been put in place, public health expenditure to be increased, grass-root investment to be increased for health and wellness centres in both rural and urban areas. Public health levels will be set up at block levels. Infectious disease hospital blocks will be set up in every district. Public health labs to be set up in every block (not just in district), to bridge inadequacy of lab network in rural areas. Big emphasis on setting up hospitals and labs, with both public and private funding.

EDUCATION—PM eVidya programme, a multi-mode digital online learning education platform to be launched immediately. This will include DIKSHA, which is ‘one nation one platform’ facility, for school education. Each class to have 1 earmarked TV channel. Manodarpan – a programme for emotional and mental support to children and families – is being launched, under PM eVidya.

BUSINESSES & Covid-19—Special insolvency framework for MSM