Finance Minister unveils structural reforms for 7 sectors in 5th tranche of Atma Nirbhar Bharat package
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the final tranche of financial stimulus and policy measures for various sectors to help build a self-reliant India under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign, on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday in his address to the nation announced a special economic package equivalent to 10 per cent of India’s GDP, amounting to 20 lakh crore rupees.
Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi, Finance Minister in her announcement of the fifth tranche of measures to address the economic situation in the country amid COVID-19, outlined structural reforms with focus on seven areas of MNREGA, Health and Education, Business during Covid, Decriminalisation of Company Act, Ease of doing business, Policy related to Public Sector Units, State government and resources related to it.
Announcing the relief measures of fifth tranche, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, under the MNREGA scheme, an additional 40 thousand crore rupees will be allocated for employment generation in the rural parts of the country. The minister said this will help to generate nearly 300 crore person days to provide relief to the migrant workers.
On the Health reforms and initiatives taken to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister said, public expenditure will be increased and Health and Wellness Centres in rural and urban areas will be ramped up. The Minister said, infectious diseases hospital blocks in all districts and integrated public health labs in all districts and block level will be set up to prepare India for the future pandemic. The mInister said, National Digital Health blueprint will be implemented under the National Digital Health Mission.
Finance Minister said, PM-e-Vidya programme for multi mode access to digital online education will be launched immediately and it will consist of e-content and QR coded textbooks for all grades. The Minister said, one TV channel per class from 1 to 12 will be operated and extensive use of Radio and Community Radio will be made. The Minister said, top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by 30th May of this month.
Finance Minister said, an initiative by the name of Manodarpan will be launched immediately for psychological support of students, teachers and their family for mental health and emotional well being. Finance Minister said, minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings has been raised to one crore rupees from one lakh to provide relief to the MSMEs. The Ministersaid, special insolvency resolution framework for MSMEs code will be notified and no fresh initiatiation of insolvency proceedings will be done upto next one year.
Speaking over, decriminalization of companies act, she said violation involving minor technical and procedural default will not be accounted which in turn will help to de-clog the criminal courts and NCLT. She said, under the ease of doing reforms, Indian public companies can directly list securities in permissible foreign jurisdiction. Finance Minister said, government will announce new policy related to the Public Sector Enterprises, PSEs. She said, list of strategic sectors requiring presence of PSEs in public interest will be notified. The Minister said, in strategic sector, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector but private sector will also be allowed. She said to minimise the wasteful administrative cost, number of enterprises in strategic sectors will be limited to four.
On the support extended to the State Government, Finance Minister said, more than 46 thousand crore rupees have been devolved in April and revenue deficit grants of more than 12 thousand crore in April and May have also been given to the states despite centre’s stressful resources.