As the government is set to disburse Rs 27,500 crore financial package under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana this week and the coming weeks,the government has directed states and UTs to ensure functioning of all bank branches, cash management and maintenance agencies of ATMs amid the national lockdown. The instructions were given to all the Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories (UTs) by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday advising that local, district, state level authorities, and police should be coordinate with banks to ensure the disbursement of money to the people covered under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana. Under the guidelines on the lockdown measures as issued under the Disaster Management Act, vide orders dated March 24, 25 and 27, banks, ATMs including IT vendors for banking operations, BCs and ATM operation and cash management services have been exempted, the order said.
