RBI chief Shanktikanta Das will adress the reporters this morning. (File)
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das is addressing the media this morning, a day after the government announced a Rs 1.75-lakh-crore package to help the poor and migrant workers tackle the financial difficulties arising from the 21-day lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The media address is being broadcast live on different social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter.
"Watch out for RBI Governor @DasShaktikanta address to the media live at 10:00 am today (March 27, 2020) #rbitoday #rbigovernor YouTube: https://youtu.be/99i3lVow5gQ Twitter: @RBI @RBIsays https://facebook.com/RBISays," a tweet by central bank read this morning.
On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a Rs 1.75 lakh-crore fiscal stimulus package as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise sharply across the nation. Her announcement came as 21-day nationwide lockdown began on Wednesday to curb the spread of highly contagious illness.
"No one will go hungry", the Finance Minister said, announcing relief under the Rs 1,75,000-crore package, dubbed as "Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme". The central government's immediate focus, she said, is on alleviating the hardships of the migrant workers, urban and rural poor. The relief measures include direct cash transfers (under the DBT or Direct Benefit Transfer scheme) and food security-related steps aimed at giving relief to the poor workers hit by the countrywide lockdown.
The government also announced a special Rs 50 lakh medical insurance cover to the frontline workers toiling to avert the crisis. "With a deep sense of gratitude, I announce that all medical staff, Aasha workers, paramedics, doctors and nurses, will get this insurance," Ms Sitharaman said, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to them as "Gods in white".
India recorded highest jump in COVID-19 cases on Thursday with 88 fresh cases reported from different parts of the country. The total is now 694, including 16 people who died.
Over the last few weeks, aviation sector has been hit, global stock markets have been volatile amid economic uncertainty overt the pandemic.
International flights will remain banned till April 14, the government said on Thursday; domestic flights have been banned till March 31.
The virus, which originated in China's Wuhan city in December, has taken more than 18,000 lives and infected over 4 lakh