Govt takes host of initiatives to contain spread of covid-19 pandemic: Sitharaman

19 Oct 2020 Evaluate

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the government has taken a host of initiatives, including a stimulus package totalling 10 percent of the country's GDP and major reforms in the labour sector, to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (covid-19) pandemic and also to mitigate its social and economic impact. She noted that covid -19 pandemic continues to impact the developing and developed countries. She added that the hard fought gains in reducing the level of poverty, achieved over a number of years, are at great risk of being lost.

Sitharaman has stated that the government had announced the first stimulus of $23 billion to provide direct cash transfers and food security measures to poor. She pointed out that this was followed by a special economic package of $271 billion -- equivalent to 10 percent of India's GDP -- based on a clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' or self-reliant India. She also said measures have been announced to provide relief to the business, bring about major reforms in the labour sector by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalising 44 central labour laws, provide effective social protection to the migrant workers through National Portability of ration cards.

The minister further said the rural sector has been provided support by way of refinance support through NABARD, injection of additional liquidity of $27.13 billion in the farm sector and by way of increased allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). With regard to strengthening of health infrastructure in the wake of the pandemic, she said the government has committed $2.03 billion for this.

© 2025 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×