Page 735 - ES 2020-21_Volume-1-2 [28-01-21]

362 Economic Survey 2020-21 Volume 2

¾ Time Use Survey, 2019 showed females spending disproportionately large time on
unpaid domestic and caregiving services to household members compared to their male
counterparts. This explains the reason for the relatively low level of female LFPR in
India. There is a need to promote non-discriminatory practices at the workplace like pay
and career progression, improve work incentives, including other medical and social
security benefits for female workers.

¾ In the fight against COVID-19, the initial measures of lockdown, social distancing, travel
advisories, practicing hand wash, wearing masks reduced the spread of the disease. The
country also acquired self-reliance in essential medicines, hand sanitizers, protective
equipment including masks, PPE Kits, ventilators, COVID-19 testing and treatment
facilities. The world’s largest COVID-19 immunization program commenced on 16
th
January, 2021 through two indigenously manufactured vaccines.

¾ NFHS-5 (Phase-I), results show improvement in immunization coverage for children,
institutional birth, infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate in most of the
selected States.

¾ Under PMGKP announced in March, 2020 cash transfers of upto ` 1000 in two
installments of ` 500 each were paid to existing old aged, widowed and disabled
beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). An amount of
` 2814.50 crore was released to 2.82 crore NSAP beneficiaries. An amount of ` 500 each
was transferred for three months digitally into bank accounts of the women beneficiaries
in PM Jan Dhan Yojana, totaling about 20.64 crores. Free distribution of gas cylinders
to about 8 crore families for three months was also undertaken. Limit of collateral free
lending for 63 lakh women SHGs increased from ` 10 lakhs to ` 20 lakhs which would
support 6.85 crore households.

¾ A total of 311.92 crore person-days was generated and a total of 65.09 lakh individual
beneficiary works and 3.28 lakh water conversation related works was completed as
on 21 January 2021 during 2020-21. Wages under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA was
st
increased by ` 20 from ` 182 to ` 202 w.e.f. 1 April, 2020, which would provide an
st
additional amount of ` 2000 annually to a worker