Lok Sabha Question No. 3556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Implementation of PMGKY in Bihar
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3556

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 / AGRAHAYANA 29, 1943 (SAKA)

## Implementation of PMGKY in Bihar

## †3556. SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has announced Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) to get basic facilities to the weaker sections of society in Bihar and Parliamentary constituency Katihar;
- b) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives of the said scheme;
- c) the details of financial assistance released to Bihar and Parliamentary constituency Katihar under the said package;
- d) the number of people who are benefited from this package; and
- e) the details of the criteria laid down by the Government for availing the benefits of this scheme?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (FINANCE) (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e): The Government had announced a comprehensive relief package of Rs.1.70 lakh crore for the welfare of weaker sections of the society in the fight against COVID-19.  The package covered the entire country, including the parliamentary constituency of Katihar in Bihar.   Under the package, additional benefits were provided to all existing beneficiaries of various welfare schemes of Government of India.  A Statement indicating details of the package & criteria for availing the benefit is at Annexure-I

Financial Assistance was provided directly under the following schemes: (a) A comprehensive insurance scheme providing Rs. 50 lakh to health workers fighting COVID-19 effective from 30.3.2020 to 18.04.2022 under which 84 eligible claims from Bihar, including 3 from Katihar Parliamentary Constituency have been settled, (b) An ex-gratia of Rs. 500 per month for three months to women Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders, under which an amount of Rs. 365523.65 Lakhs has been credited to banks accounts of 24362070 women in the State of Bihar, including Rs. 10185.47 Lakhs to 688146 women in  Katihar  district  and  (c)  Ex-gratia  of  Rs.1000  to  the  existing  Old  Age,  Widow  and  Divyangjan beneficiaries under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) respectively of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) under which the scheme-wise details are as under:

| Name of Scheme   | No. of beneficiaries covered   | Fund released (in lakh)   |
|------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2996472          | 29964.72                       | IGNOAPS                   |
| 547777           | 5477.77                        | IGNWPS                    |
| 120562           | 1205.62                        | IGNDPS                    |
| TOTAL            | 3664811 36648.11               |                           |

The funds released and details of beneficiaries at district-wise and Parliamentary Constituency-wise are not maintained centrally.

The  details  of  benefits  provided  in  respect  of  the  State  of  Bihar  under  PMGKP,  including  financial assistance and number of beneficiaries is at Annexure-II.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of LSUSQ No.3556 for answer on 20.12.2021

## Details of PMGKP

- (i) Insurance  scheme  for  health  workers  fighting  COVID-19  was  launched  w.e.f. 30.03.2020  to  provide  comprehensive  personal  accident  cover  of  Rs.  50  lakh  to healthcare providers.  The scheme has been extended and is valid upto April, 2022.
- (ii) PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGAY)- Additional allocation of food grain @ 5 kg per person per month free of cost was provided to all beneficiaries covered under the targeted  public  distribution  system  including  those  covered  under  Direct  Benefit Transfer (DBT).  Further, Pulses according to regional preferences @ 1 kg per family were provided for three months, free of cost.  The scheme was extended till November, 2020.  The scheme of free foodgrains was reintroduced for the months of May, 2021 to November, 2021. It has now been extended to March, 2022.
- (iii) Benefit to farmers:  The first installment of Rs 2,000 due in 2020-21 was front-loaded and paid in April, 2020 itself under the PM KISAN Yojana, covering about 8.7 crore farmers.
- (iv) Cash transfers-
- a) An ex-gratia of Rs. 500 per month for three months to a total of 20.40 crores (approx)  PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) women account-holders.
- b) Free of cost LPG cylinders (three) to 8 crore beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
- c) Wage-earners, earning below Rs 15,000 per month, in businesses having less than  100  workers,  were  provided  Twenty-four  (24)  percent  of  the  monthly wages into their PF accounts, for three months.  The scheme was extended for another three months, i.e., till August 2020.
- d) An amount of Rs.1000/- to around 3 crore aged widows and people in Divyang category.
- (v) MGNREGA wages increased by Rs. 20 with effect from 1 April, 2020.
- (vi) Self-Help groups:  Limit of collateral free lending to Self-Help groups was increased from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh for women organized through 63 lakhs Self Help Groups
- (vii) Other components of PM Garib Kalyan package:
- a) Organized sector:  Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Regulations amended to include Pandemic as the reason to allow non-refundable advance of 75 percent of  the  amount  or  three  months  of  the  wages,  whichever  is  lower,  from  the accounts.
- b) State Governments were directed to utilise Welfare Fund for Building and Other Constructions Workers to provide assistance and support to 3.5 Crore registered workers of the fund to protect them against economic disruptions.
- c) District Mineral Fund:  The State Governments were asked to utilise the funds available under District Mineral Fund (DMF) for supplementing and augmenting facilities of medical testing, screening and other requirements in connection  with  preventing  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic  as  well  as treating the patients affected with this pandemic.

## Annexure-II.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of LSUSQ No.3556 for 20.12.2021.

|   Sl. No. | Scheme                                                                             | Benefits provided in the State of Bihar                     | Benefits provided in the State of Bihar   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|         1 | PMGAY (Apr-Nov 2020)                                                               | Foodgrains distributed: 31,47,508 MT                        | Beneficiaries: 8,11,39,356                |
|         2 | PMGAY Pulses/Chana (Apr - Nov 2020)                                                | Pulses/Chana distributed: 1,20,112 MT                       | Beneficiaries: 1,43,33,767                |
|         3 | PMGAY III May'21 to June'21                                                        | Foodgrains distributed: 8,18,441 MT                         | Beneficiaries: 8,18,44,051                |
|         4 | PMGAY IV July'21 to October'21                                                     | Foodgrains distributed: 16,19,902 MT                        | Beneficiaries: 8,09,95,124                |
|         5 | Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)                                               | Refill delivered against advance or reimbursed: 1,53,47,936 | Amount Transferred: Rs. 1,11,171 lakh     |
|         6 | PM KISAN                                                                           | Beneficiaries: 58,99,824                                    | Beneficiaries: 58,99,824                  |
|         7 | 24% EPF (24% of the monthly wages contribution into PF accounts, for three months) | Beneficiaries: 67,545.00                                    | Amount: 4,287.92 lakh                     |
|         8 | National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)                                        | Beneficiaries: 36,64,811                                    | Beneficiaries: 36,64,811                  |