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