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Centre Extends Free Ration scheme for 3 months

Published: 6th Oct, 2022

Context

The Central government recently announced an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) for another three months until December 2022.

About

About PMGK Anna Yojana

  • The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a free food grain scheme introduced in March 2020.
  • Objective: To alleviate COVID distress.
  • The scheme is part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply free food grains to migrants and the poor
  • Different Phases:
    • Phase-I and Phase-II of this scheme were operational from April to June 2020 and July to November 2020 respectively.
    • Phase III of the scheme was operational from May to June 2021.
    • Phase-IV of the scheme during July-November, 2021 and
    • Phase V from December 2021 till March 2022.
    • Phase VI from April-September, 2022.
      • The financial implication for the Central government has been about Rs. 3.45 Lakh Crore up to Phase-VI of PMGKAY.
    • The PMGKAY scheme for Phase VII from September to December 2022 would entail an estimated additional food subsidy of 44,762 Crore.
      • The total outgo in terms of food grains for PMGKAY Phase VII is likely to be about 122 LMT.
  • Benefits allocated:
    • PMGKAY beneficiaries get a 5kg free ration per person per month in addition to their normal quota of food grains under the National Food Security Act.
    • Under NFSA, highly subsidized food grains are provided to about 75% rural and 50% urban population of the country.
  • Eligibility:
    • Families belonging to the Below Poverty Line - Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.
    • AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government.
    • Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
    • All primitive tribal
    • Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on daily basis in the informal sector are included under the scheme.

Regulatory Bodies involved

  • Public Food Distribution System in States
  • Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • Ministry of Finance
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