The following are components of the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana package:
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
This is the worlds’ largest food security scheme launched by the Government of India to combat COVID-induced economic disruptions. The scheme aims to ensure food safety (of the poor) by providing food items including 5 kg rice/wheat per individual and 1 kg gram per family every month for free.
All beneficiaries of the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority household (PHH) ration cardholders are eligible for food grains under this scheme. Key features of the scheme include the following:
- 80 crore individuals, i.e., ~66% of India's population was covered under this scheme
- Each one of them received double of their current entitlement. This additionality was free of cost.
- To ensure availability of protein, 1 kg of pulses were provided to families (as per regional preferences)
Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19
Under this scheme, the govt. has insured health professionals treating COVID-19 patients. In case of accidental death of these healthcare professionals, the family would be compensated with an amount of Rs. 50 lakh. Accidental death includes death due to COVID or accident while engaging with COVID-related duty. The premium of this scheme is being borne by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Public healthcare providers including community health workers, private hospital staff and retired /volunteers/local urban bodies/contracted/daily wage/ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by the states/central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of the Central/States/UTs, AIIMS and INIs/hospital of the Central Ministries are included in this scheme.
Apart from these healthcare professionals, employees such as ’safai karamcharis’, ward boys, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors & specialists and other health workers were also covered.
The scheme covered ~22 lakh health workers who are fighting the pandemic.
Other prominent schemes launched or accelerated through PMGKY includes the following:
Advance Payments to Farmers under PM KISAN
To support farmers during COVID, the govt. advanced the first instalment of PM Kisan Yojana. The installment of Rs. 2,000 was due in 2020-21, but was frontloaded and paid in April 2020. This covered about 8.7 crore farmers.
Support to Low-wage Earners in Organised Sectors
To support small businesses, the govt. proposed to pay 24% of employees’ monthly wages into their PF accounts.
Wage earners (earning below Rs. 15,000 per month) in a business with <100 workers were eligible for this scheme.
Free Gas Cylinders to Poor Families
For three months starting April 2020, the government provided free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to over 8 crore Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries.
MNREGA Worker Support
The govt. increased MNREGA wages by Rs. 20 with effect from April 1, 2020. The step was to provide an additional per capital benefit of Rs. 2,000 to a worker. Approximately 13.62 crore families benefitted from this scheme.
Support to Senior Citizens
To support the senior citizens and people with disabilities, the govt. transferred Rs. 1,000 for three months to 3 crore aged widows and people in the Divyang (handicapped) category.
Other Measures
The Govt. of India also amended the EPF regulations to include pandemic as the reason to allow non-refundable advance of 75% of the EPF amount or three months’ wages (whichever is lower).
It also allowed a welfare fund for building and other construction workers to aid and support workers during COVID disruptions. The fund supported about 3.5 crore registered workers.
Scheme Outcome
Under the PM Garib Kalyan Package, over Rs. 68,820 crore was provided through cash or aid to 42 crore poor people across the country.
Rs. 30,952 crore was transferred to women account holders of the PMJDY; Rs. 2,814.5 crore was transferred to 2.81 crore elderly people, widows and people with disabilities; Rs. 17,891 crore was paid to farmers as an advance instalment under the PM Kisan Yojana; and Rs. 4,987 crore was distributed to support 1.82 crore construction and building workers.
Apart from this, Rs. 2,476 crore was contributed to the EPF account of 0.43 crore employees and Rs. 9,700 crore was transferred to beneficiaries of the PM Ujjwala Yojana.