PM Modi directs officials to ensure poor get benefits of free food-grains without any issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed officials of the Central Government to work in close co-ordination with the states to ensure that the poor get the benefits of free food-grains without any issues. He chaired a meeting to review the functioning of different empowered groups through the video conference yesterday.

 

The Empowered Group on Economic and Welfare measures made a presentation to the Prime Minister on  the steps taken such as extension of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. It was discussed that portability enabled due to One Nation One Ration Card initiative has helped to benefit more people.

 

The Insurance scheme for frontline health workers has been extended for another six months. The Prime Minister said that steps should be taken to expedite the settlement of pending Insurance claims so that the dependents of the deceased are able to avail of benefits in time.

 

The Empowered Group on issues relating to facilitating supply



chain and logistics management gave a presentation on various advisories relating to measures to be taken to contain the pandemic. The Prime Minister instructed officials to plan holistically to ensure seamless movement of goods so that supply chain disruptions are avoided.

 

The Empowered Group on coordinating with private sector, NGOs and International Organizations briefed the Prime Minister on how the Government is working in active partnership with them. Mr Modi asked the officials to explore how volunteers from the civil society can be utilised to lessen the pressure on the healthcare sector by invoking them in non-specialised tasks.

 

It was discussed that NGOs could help to establish and maintain lines of communication between the patients, their dependents and the health care personnel. The Prime Minister said that Ex-Servicemen could be encouraged to handle call centres for communicating with people under home quarantine.