This has led to beneficiaries not getting enough time to pick their entitled foodgrains
The Centre has recently asked the state governments to keep fair price shops and ration shops open on all days and for a longer duration amid the lockdown, in order to ensure timely distribution of free and subsidised food grains to the needy.
The Union Food Ministry issued an advisory pointing out that the timings of the fair price shops in some states and Union territories during the lockdown have been curtailed. This has led to beneficiaries not getting enough time to pick their entitled foodgrains.
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as well as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme, the Central government has asked states/UTs to allow the ration shops to be open throughout the day in a staggered manner, maintaining proper social distancing and adhering to all COVID-19 protocols.
Under NFSA, every month the Centre is distributing 5 kg of foodgrains per person, at Rs 1-3 per kg to over 80 crore beneficiaries via these fair price shops.
Moreover, 5 kg of free grains are being distributed to the same beneficiaries under the PMGKY scheme in May (will be followed in June as well).
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinox Labs, commented, “The economic impact of COVID has been severe. People lost their jobs and for many, these ration shops were the only source of sustenance in the pandemic.The government’s decision to keep the fair price shops and ration shops open throughout the day will be a massive help for the people in need.”