The stimulus package relates to RBI measures to enhance liquidity in the market and an economic package by the Government of India, mainly comprising additional spending, reduction in interest rates and excise duty cuts. These measures are expected to prevent large scale job losses. In the organized sector, the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana being implemented by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) with effect from 01.04.2019 provides a social safety net. Under this scheme, employees who lose their employment due to retrenchment, closure of factories establishments or permanent disability due to non employment injury after being insured for five or more years, are entiled to unemployment allowance, in cash equal to 50 per cent of their wage up to six months during his her entire service. The allowance can be availed in one spell or in different spells of more than one month. In addition, the worker and his family members are also entiled to medical care from ESI hospitals, dispensaries and panel clincis. Hon. Members will be happy to know that the period of availing unemployment allowance has now been enhanced to one year. Social security cover for unorganized sector is the most important policy strategy for protecting the poor. In the recent past our Government has taken several major initiatives. Aam Admi Bima Yojana to provide life cum disability cover to rural landless households has already been launched. The scope of Old Age Pension Scheme has also been expanded. The Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched the Health Insurance Scheme namely, the 'Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana for BPL workers and their families. At this point of time about 26 lakh smart cards have been issued and more than a crore persons.
