New Delhi: Around 75.08 crore beneficiaries have received free ration under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in May while 66.11 crore people got free ration in June. Amid the Covid -19 crisis, the Central government has sensitised states and union territories to lift and distribute free food grains under PMGKAY in a time-bound manner. Under this scheme, the Central government is giving an additional five kg of food grains (wheat-rice) per person for May and June under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to 80 crore beneficiaries of the National Food Security Scheme (NFSA). This allocation is in addition to regular NFSA allocation.
However, the PMGKAY scheme has been extended till November in the wake of the Covid situation. The scheme is for ration cardholders and the Centre is spending Rs 26,000 over to fulfil the requirements of the poor people. Under PMGKAY-III (May-June 2021), a total of 79.39 LMT of food grains, including 41.85 LMT rice and 37.54 LMT wheat, were allocated to the states and UTs while 78.26 LMT of food grains were lifted by the States and Union Territories from the depots of Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Read:| 36 states, UTs lifted 31.80 LMT food grains so far under PMGKAY
Out of this 37.54 LMT and 33.05 LMT food grains were distributed free of cost to the poor and needy people in May and June respectively. A total of 70.5 LMT of food grains have been distributed so far. Meanwhile, the Centre has allocated 198.78 LMT food grains including 107.58 LMT rice and 91.20 LMT wheat to the states and UTs for July-November 2021 under PMGKAY IV. Nearly 22 states have started lifting food grains ( 4.52 LMT rice and 1.39 LMT wheat) from the central pool of the Food Corporation of India. FCI has supplied 5.91 LMT of food grains under PMGKAY IV so far.
Notably, rice, wheat and coarse grains are being sold at Rs 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1 per kg through ration shops.
Read:| 34 states & UTs distributed 28 LMT of food grains under PMGKAY
