One Nation, One Ration Card by March 21, confirms FinMin; Announces 9 imp measures for migrant workers

New Delhi, May 14: Announcing the next set of measures to control the spread of the pandemic in the country under 'Aatma Nirbhar Abhiyan', Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday introduced One Nation, One Ration Card scheme for free food grain supply to the migrant labourers. "Even those workers who do not have ration cards or are not registered under the public distribution network can also avail 5 kilos of wheat or rice, and one kilos of gram free of cost", she added.

 

The move is expected to benefit 8 crore migrant labours and will cost the government Rs 3500 crore. The finance minister also added that the responsibility to reach out to the migrants and implement the scheme will rest with the respective state governments. This is after the FinMin slated a slew of measures for MSMEs yesterday out of Rs 20 lakh crore package.

 

 

Further, Sitharaman noted that MNREGA is offering work to 2.33 cr wage seekers in 1.87 lakh Gram Panchyats and recalled that in the previous economic package, the wages under MNREGA were also increased from Rs 182 to Rs 202 in order to provide benefit to India's poorest.

 

Assuring that the migrant workers would get jobs in their home states too, the Ministry said that government will convert government housing complexes lying vacant to be rented out to migrants on concessional rates. PPP model will also be used to achieve this under the PM Awas Yojna. The Centre also announced a special credit facility of Rs 5,000 crores for 50 lakh vendors. She said that the scheme will be launched within a month. An initial working capital of up to Rs 10,000 will also be provided.

 

On Tuesday evening, PM Modi pitched for a self-reliant India in the post Covid-19 world as he announced an economic package that is about 10 per cent of the country’s GDP. The Prime Minister said the package would help every section of society, including workers, farmers, the middle class, industrial units and the MSME sector.

 

The stimulus will play an important role in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (Self-reliant India Campaign), PM Modi had said. “India’s self-reliance will be based on five pillars — economy, infrastructure, technology driven system, vibrant demography and demand. When India speaks of self-reliance, it does not advocate for a self-centered system. In India’s self-reliance there is a concern for the whole world’s happiness, cooperation and peace,” he said.