PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN ANNA YOJANA – GOVERNMENT SCHEME
News:
Food Ministry silent on
extending free grains scheme
What's
in the news?
●
The Prime Minister’s grain scheme or
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is for a period of one year
beginning January 1, 2024, according to the Union Food Ministry.
Key
takeaways:
●
The Food
Ministry said that the Government of India is bearing food subsidy for
delivery of grains to designated depots in States under the PMGKAY.
●
To aid
poor beneficiaries and ensure nationwide uniformity and effective
implementation of the National Food Security Act, the Centre is providing grain
free to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
households and Priority Households (PHH) under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
PMGKAY:
● The
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a free food grain scheme
introduced by the government during the first nationwide lockdown due to
Covid-19 in March 2020.
● Under
this scheme, the center provides 5 kg of
free food grains per month to the poor.
● This
is in addition to the subsidized (Rs 2-3 per kg) ration provided under the
National Food Security Act (NFSA) to families covered under the Public
Distribution System (PDS).
● It
will be provided to around 80 crore beneficiaries covered under both categories
of NFSA,
○ Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
- entitled to 35 kg foodgrains per household per month
○ Priority Householders (PHH)
- entitled to 5 kg per person per month
● The
scheme can be availed through the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan.
● The
scheme has been extended many times ever since its introduction.
Nodal
Ministry
- Union
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Need for extension of PMGKAY:
● To
support the poor and the vulnerable during the festival season (food security).