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New Delhi : Using the digital payment infrastructure, around 39 crore poor people have received financial assistance of Rs 34,800 crore under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) as on May 5,2020, as announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 26,2020, to protect them from the impact of the lockdown due to COVID 19.
As part of the PMGKP, the Government announced free foodgrains and cash payment to women and poor senior citizens and farmers. The swift implementation of the package is being continuously monitored by Central and State governments. Finance Ministry, the concerned Ministries, Cabinet Secretariat and PMO are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the relief measures reach the needy swiftly and in line with the intent of the lock down.
Fintech and digital technology have been employed for swift and efficient transfer to the beneficiary. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), i.e. transfer that ensures that the amount is directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency, has been employed. This has also ensured credit to the beneficiary’s account without the need for the beneficiary to physically go to the branch, according to a PIB release.
Rs 16,394 crore was front loaded towards payment of the first instalment of PM-KISAN to 8.19 crore beneficiaries while Rs 10,025 crore credited to 20.05 crore (98.33%) women Jan Dhan account holders as first instalment. The number of women PMJDY accounts holders whose accounts have been debited by customer induced transaction is 8.72 crore (44%). Rs. 2,785 crore credited to 5.57 crore women Jan Dhan account holders with second instalment as on May 5, 2020.