The Financial Express (27.03.2020) National Social Assistance Program: The Union government will provide three months' pension in advance to the poor senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities in first week of April. The program is run by the Union Rural Development Ministry. Apart from the above, an ex gratia amount of Rs 1,000 over the next three months will be given in two instalments to these beneficiaries, according to the announcement by Finance Minister.

firstpost.com (11.05.2020) COVID-19 is far more than a health crisis. The economic crisis--a severe fallout of the virus--is grim, and much grimmer for developing countries like India. The pandemic has already exposed the health vulnerabilities facing India, especially its rural poor, and urban slum dwellers.

livemint.com (08.05.2020) The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to face an income crisis, which will have a direct bearing on millions of its subscribers’ PF earnings in 2020-21. A million workers have already withdrawn their EPF savings in last five weeks to tide over income loss caused by the ongoing lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
EPFO has settled almost ₹3,000 crore of claims by now; this could double by internal estimates

opengovasia.com (29.04.2020) 20,000 common service centres will offer an Aadhaar updating service, catering to a large number of citizens in rural parts of the country.

Business Standard News (26.04.2020) The Union government is going to launch an online portal for the migrant workers in the unorganised sector impacted due to a national lockdown imposed to check the spread of Covid-19 in India. The portal, which has been tentatively named by the labour and employment ministry as the National Portal for Covid-19 Affected Unorganised Migrant Workers, will gather the details of all the unorganised sector workers who are stranded in relief camps, residential or industrial clusters.

The Economic Times (20.004.2020) The government has fast-tracked its plan to provide social security for gig economy workers and those in the unorganised sectors, anticipating a significant increase in their numbers as unemployment soars due to the Covid-19 crisis.

bloombergquint.com (26.03.2020) The Indian government will make amendments to the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act to allow members to withdraw up to 75 percent of their balance in the fund or three months’ wages, whichever is lower, as an emergency measure to tide over any difficulties arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

economictimes.indiatimes.com (17.03.2020) NEW DELHI: The government has given employees and employers more time to submit their monthly insurance contribution by relaxing provisions of the Employees’ State Insurance Act in view of the Covid-19 outbreak. It has given 45 days, instead of 15 days as mandated under the Act, for submission of insurance contribution for February and March. The average monthly contribution to ESI Corporation (ESIC) by its subscribers is ₹1,300 crore.

During this unprecedented time the world and India are facing due to the Coronavirus outbreak, it has been the endeavour of Indo-German Focal Point (IGFP) to rise to the ocassion in supporting the important role of the State in investing in prevention, by addressing issues such as the vulnerability of migrant construction workers, the promotion of awareness programmes on prevention and the rescue of stranded workers. The Thinktank of the Govt of India (Niti Aayog) has apprised the activities of IGFP  on the Prevention of  the spreading of

indiatoday.in (27.03.2020) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a 22,200 million Indian Rupees (INR) support package for the welfare of economically weaker sections of society in Odisha to deal with the coronavirus related impact.
The measures include :