Work offered to 2.33 crore workers: Sitharaman

Addressing a press conference, Sitharaman said, "Work under the MGNREGA has been provided to 2.33 crore wagers in 1.87 lakh panchayats to benefit migrant workers, who are being actively enrolled."

The government had generated 14.62 crore persondays of work till May 13, which was 40-50 per cent more compared with May 2019. "This is to help migrant labourers find work who have returned to their home states," she said.

The Central government has asked states to use the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to set up shelters and provide food and water to the urban poor, including migrant labourers. "Rs 11,000 crore was sent for this purpose," she said.

The Finance Minister said self-help groups (SHGs) had provided three crore masks and 1.20 lakh litres sanitizers. 7,200 new SHGs had been formed to generate employment during lockdown, she added.