Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on July 1, 2020, held a media briefing through video conference to provide details of provision, preparedness and necessary steps taken by the ministry for providing additional foodgrains @ /month 5kg/person free of cost to all beneficiaries (AAY and PHH) covered under Targeted Public Distribution System as per provision of NFSA (including those covered under DBT).
Paswan also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending this scheme till November end, so that poor and needy persons do not go hungry and get free ration during the rainy and forthcoming festival seasons during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paswan informed the media that the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana starting from July 1, 2020, will be effective till November 2020. During this period, a total of 200 LMT grains will be distributed among 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries free of cost, as well as a total of 9.78 LMT gram will also be distributed among about 20 crore families. He informed that if both the schemes PMGKAY-1 and PMGKAY-2 are combined, the total expenditure will be around Rs 1.5 lakh crore, according to a PIB release.
Paswan said that under this scheme, more than 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries of the country will continue to get additional foodgrains @5kg/person/month and 1kg of gram to each family in addition to their monthly entitlement. In this regard, orders were issued by the department for the State and UT governments on June 30, 2020, and all the State/UTs have been asked to start distribution of food grains with immediate effect for the next 5 months. He said presently an additional 10% extra foodgrains have been allocated to States/UTs and additional allocation of foodgrains will be provided as and when required by the States/UTs.