In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the government has unveiled the 2nd Tranche of measures to ameliorate the hardships faced specifically by migrant labours, street vendors, migrant urban poor, small traders, self-employed people, small farmers and housing. Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman detailed the short term and long-term measures for supporting the poor.
Sitharaman further said that the Government is attentive to the needs to all the segments of economy and society. She also mentioned that small business set ups, especially those run by street vendors, support dignified livelihoods through Shishu MUDRA loans and they also need patronage by way of business as well as caring attention in the form of social security and enhanced credit.
Meanwhile, short term and long-term measures announcement includes free food grains supply to migrants for 2 months, technology system to be used enabling Migrants to access PDS (Ration) from any Fair Price Shops in India by March 2021-One Nation one Ration Card, Scheme for Affordable Rental Housing Complexes for Migrant Workers and Urban Poor to be launched, 2% Interest Subvention for 12 months for Shishu MUDRA loanees- Relief of Rs. 1,500 crore, Rs 5,000 crore Credit facility for Street Vendors.
Besides, the government also announced Rs 70,000 crore boost to housing sector and middle income group through extension of Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for MIG under PMAY(Urban), Rs 6,000 crore for Creating employment using CAMPA funds, Rs 30,000 crore Additional Emergency Working Capital for farmers through NABARD and Rs 2 lakh crore credit boost to 2.5 crore farmers under Kisan Credit Card Scheme.