New Delhi: The Cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval to a proposal to distribute monthly 5 kg free foodgrains to about 80 crores PDS beneficiaries during the May-June period under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
The PMGKAY was announced in 2020 for three months till July and later extended till November to combat the economic impact of COVID-19 on the poor.
In view of the resurgence of COVID-19, the Food Ministry re-implemented the PGMKAY for two months with effect from May 1. The same was approved in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval...for allocation of additional foodgrain under PMGKAY-III for another period of two months -- May to June 2021," the government said in a statement.
Under the scheme, a monthly 5 kg per person will be given free of cost for about 79.88 crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), it added.
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The total outgo in terms of foodgrains may be approximately 80 lakh tonne and would entail an estimated food subsidy of Rs 25,332.92 crore, the statement noted.
According to the government, "Additional allocation will ameliorate the hardships faced by poor due to economic disruption caused by coronavirus".
The government also said that 28 states and Union territories have started lifting additional foodgrains meant for free distribution to 80 crore beneficiaries for two months under PMGKAY.
In a statement, the Food Ministry said that the state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already positioned sufficient foodgrains in all states and UTs for the successful implementation of the scheme.
"Till May 3, about 28 States/ UTs have started lifting from FCI depots and 5.88 lakh tonne of foodgrains have been supplied for further distribution to beneficiaries," the ministry said.
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Lakshadweep has completely lifted its May-June allocation, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have already lifted 100 per cent of their May month allocation, it said.
The rest of the states/UTs (Punjab, Chandigarh, Goa, MP, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha and Puducherry) have also been told to immediately lift foodgrains under the PMGKAY and the same is likely to be accelerated in the coming days, it added.
Further, the ministry said the states have also been advised to encourage migrant NFSA beneficiaries for using the facility of portability under the 'One Nation One Ration Card' plan.
The cost of free foodgrain distribution under the scheme is entirely being borne by the central government.
The additional grains given for free under PMGKAY to NFSA beneficiaries is over and above the existing monthly entitlement of 5 kg grains per person.
No poor family will suffer on account of non-availability of foodgrains due to disruption in the next two months, the statement said.
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The allocation of food grains to states under the PMGKAY will be decided by the Food Ministry on the basis of the existing allocation ratio under NFSA.
Also, the ministry may decide on the extension of the lifting/distribution period under PMGKAY as per operational requirements keeping in view partial and local lockdown situations, and also arising out of adverse weather conditions like the monsoon, cyclones, supply chain and COVID-induced constraints, it added.
(With inputs from agencies)
