7 Cr Maharashtrians get free foodgrains under PMGKAY

The move is aimed at benefiting 80 crore people across the country, distributing 5 kg of wheat or rice per month.

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.

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.

Briefing media persons in Mumbai on July 5, 2021, 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.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on June 23^rd 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 crores. The additional free of cost allocation of food grains will be over and above the regular monthly food grains allocated for beneficiaries covered under NFSA.

The PMGKAY programme has won praise of the World Food Programme of the United Nations for ensuring food security for the poor during pandemic times.  The WFP is reportedly keen on undertaking a case study of the scheme so that other emerging economies could benefit from its design and implementation.