In a significant move, the Prime Minister announced an extension of free food grain distribution under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Poor families will continue to receive 5 kg of food grains per person every month, and Antodya Anna Yojana (AAY) families will now receive 35 kg of grains every month. This comes ahead of the PMGKAY deadline on December 31, 2023.
PMGKAY, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, provided 5 kg of food grains for free to individuals under the NFSA quota. The government has now merged PMGKAY and NFSA schemes.
Government officials hailed this decision as a ‘New Year’s gift to the needy.’ Over 81.35 crore people will benefit from this move without any need for payment.
The NFSA, initiated by the Center in 2013, covers all 36 states and union territories. Recently, Food Minister Piyush Goyal stated in Parliament that the government has allocated approximately 1,118 lakh tonnes of food grains to states and union territories under PMGKAY.
The total approved budget for food subsidy and central assistance for all phases, from the first to the seventh, stands at around Rs 3.91 lakh crore.
