PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana: Centre Provides Free Foodgrains To Around 7 Crore People In Maharashtra, Goa During May-June

Nearly 7 crore people of Maharashtra and 5.32 lakh people of Goa have benefitted by the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic during May- June 2021, an official release said on Monday (5 July).

Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been at the forefront of implementing the PMGKAY scheme and has already positioned adequate stock of foodgrains in all states and union territories, the release added.

Briefing media persons in Mumbai on Monday, K P Asha, General Manager, FCI Maharashtra said 3.68 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 2.57 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been distributed during May-June 2021.

Under the scheme, 7 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains had been allocated for Maharashtra for the two-month period, a Food Ministry release said.

RP Singh, Executive Director, West Zone, FCI said, “the government has now extended the scheme for another five months, and the Food Corporation of India has maintained sufficient availability of foodgrains to meet the requirement. It already has 11.02 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Wheat and 6.65 Lakh Metric Tonnes of rice in stock, which has been further supplemented by 2 lakh MT wheat and 1.5 lakh MT rice to ensure uninterrupted supply in all the revenue districts of Maharashtra and Goa.”

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had on 23 June approved the extension of PMGKAY scheme till November, in a bid to lessen the hardship faced by the poor due to economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move is aimed at benefitting 80 crore people across the country, distributing 5 kg of wheat or rice per month. The move entails a financial implication of Rs. 67,266 crore.

The additional free of cost allocation of food grains will be over and above the regular monthly food grains allocated for beneificiaries covered under NFSA, the release said.