PMGKAY III: Nutritional support to poor on all weekdays despite local lockdown

Lockdown posed by few states has led to restriction in functioning of shops including fair price shops. Addressing this issue, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has issued an advisory to all the States and UTs. It tells them to keep the Fair Price Shops open on all days of the month and distribute Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana III and NFSA food grains to beneficiaries in a staggered manner throughout the day. In addition to this, States and UTs have been asked to follow prover social distancing measures and other COVID-19 protocols. This will reduce the rush and ensure smooth and time bound distribution of foodgrains.

Government is also ensuring wide publicity of this advisory in local language in all parts of India

*May 2021: Re-implementation of PMGKAY*

Considering the economic hardship being faced by NFSA beneficiaries during second wave too, government recently decided to resume the distribution of 5kg of free food grains to poor people for the months of May and June. This is in addition to distribution of monthly subsidised foodgrains of 5 kg per person at Rs 1-3 per kg via ration shops.

Till June 2021, about 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries will be provided with 5kg rice/wheat per month.

*Who are NFSA Beneficiaries?*

NFSA beneficiaries of rural areas are people who have less than 3 rooms with pucca walls and roof. Household which does not have any member as a government employee comes under this category. Family that does not have any member earning more than 10,000 a month and who does not pay income or professional tax makes their place in NFSA beneficiary list. Also they should not have mechanised three or four wheeler agricultural equipment.

*PMGKAY: Relief during first wave too*

26th March 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against COVID-19. It was done to reach out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.

Government aimed that no poor family should suffer on account of non-availability of foodgrains due to disruption.Everyone was provided with double of their entitlement.In order to ensure adequate availability of protein to all beneficiaries, Government announced that 1 kg of pulse will be provided per family

On 30th June 2020, PM Modi announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana till November. During the extended period, more than 80 crore people were provided 5 kg free wheat/rice and 1 kg whole chana per month. Government spent more than Rs 90,000 crore towards the extension of the scheme.

The recent move of opening shops on all days and exempting them from working hours defined by states is definitely going to reduce the economic hardship that is being faced by poor people like it did last year.With this we come to the end of this video, thanks for watching. Take care.