NEW DELHI, MAY 05, 2021: THE Centre on Tuesday said 28 States and Union Territories (UTs) have started lifting an additional 5.88 lakh tonne of foodgrains meant for free distribution to 80 crore beneficiaries for two months – May and June – under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY).
The PM-GKAY has been reintroduced for May and June to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to various disruptions caused by the resurgence of COVID-19 in the country.
Under the scheme, about 80 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 are being provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost rice or wheat at a scale of 5 kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already positioned sufficient food grains in all States and UTs for the successful implementation of the scheme and started supplying food grains to the governments. The entire cost of plementation, around Rs. 26,000 crore, is being borne by the Centre.
“Till May 3, about 28 States and UTs have started lifting from FCI depots and 5.88 lakh tonne foodgrains have been supplied for further distribution to beneficiaries,” said the Food Ministry.
Lakshadweep has completely lifted both months allocation while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have already lifted 100 per cent of their May allocation.
The rest of States and UTs – Punjab, Chandigarh, Goa, MP, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha and Puducherry – have also been sensitised to immediately start the lifting.
Further, the ministry has advised them to encourage migrant NFSA beneficiaries for using the portability facility under the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ plan.