Elderly, Divyang To Get Extra Rs 1,000 Transfer Via DBT, BPL Families To Get Free Cylinders; Farmers To Also Benefit

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (26 March) announced an additional cash benefit of Rs 1,000 for the elderly, divyang and pensioners - which will be transferred to their bank accounts via the direct benefit transfer scheme in two instalments, ANI has reported.

The Finance Minister added that in order to ensure no shortage of cooking fuel, the 8.3 crore BPL beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme will get free cylinders in the next three months. She added that an additional payment of Rs 500 per month will be made to 20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders.

She also informed that farmers who get Rs 6,000 annually under PM-Kisan scheme will get first instalment of Rs 2,000 immediately in the first week of April to avoid any shortage of cash.

MGNREGA wages will be increased to help over 5 Crore families. Every worker under coming under the scheme get an average hike of Rs 2000.

The limit for collateral free loans have been raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Over 63 lakh Self-Help Groups will aid 7 Crore households via these loans.