The Centre has now extended the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for five months, July-November 2021 and further allocation of 198.78 LMT food grains has been made under PMGKAY-IV (July-November 2021), the Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution ministry informed on Tuesday.
Eight states, including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Telangana and Tripura have started lifting food grains under PMGKAY-IV and 1.06 LMT food grains have been lifted upto June 28, 2021, the ministry stated.
As per the latest updates from the ministry, Food Corporation of India (FCI) has supplied 77.42 LMT free food grains to all 36 states/ UTs under PMGKAY-III (May-June 2021) till June 28, 2021.
Twenty-three states/ UTs namely Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and West Bengal have lifted full allocation for May-June 2021. Last date of lifting is June 30, it stated.
FCI is transporting food grains all across the country to ensure smooth supply to all states/ UT governments. Since May 1, 2021, total 2,608 food grain rakes have been loaded by FCI. It has already positioned adequate stocks in all states/ UTs for successful implementation of PMGKAY. At present, 591 LMT wheat and 295 LMT rice (Total 886 LMT food grains) are available under the Central Pool, it added.
The Government of India had announced the PMGKAY to ameliorate the hardship faced by the poor due to economic disruption caused by Coronavirus. Under the scheme, free food grains for a period of two months (May-June 2021) at five kg per person per month is being distributed to beneficiaries covered under NFSA.
