As the second wave is affecting the lives of the people and economy, leaving most people jobless and triggering migration of laborers and workers the union government today has decided to distribute 5 kgs of food grains as nutritional support to all 800 million beneficiaries of the National food security Act “NFSA” over and above their regular Quota in the month of May and June under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana 2022 details

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the Central government has announced today that they will distribute 5 kgs of rice or wheat per month in May and June ’21. The government will bear a total of Rs 26,000 crores in subsidies which are over and above its usual Public distribution section bill of Rs 1.8 trillion in FY 21. The government launched the scheme last year during the Covid wave to support the poor and needy people during the lockdown.

Under this scheme around 80 crores, NFSA beneficiaries, and more will be able to get free 5 kgs of rice or wheat per person per month above their usual quota and it will help them during this fight against the second wave of COVID 19 which has hit 3.5 Lakh/day new cases today.

As the Government has 3.5 times (77 million tonnes) the buffer requirement of food grains and the Food Corporation of India doesn’t have any outstanding dues, this distribution will not be a problem for the Government.

Last year, the government distributed 1 kg/month of pulses too under this scheme but this time their stock is less than the buffer quota.

All who can avail under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana

• NFSA Beneficiaries
• Private employees
• Women SHG
• MGNREGA workers
• Women Jan Dhan account holders
• Old age/widow/Disables pensioners
• Farmers

People without Ration cards and ID proof

People without ration cards and ID proofs can also avail of this scheme along with the 80 crores of NFSA beneficiaries. Food for all is a necessity during this pandemic where we all must fight as one to control the spread of Covid 19. With the free distribution of medicines and vaccinations, food for all is also a must.

As most of the workers and laborers who are the backbone of any nation don’t have or carry ration cards and any ID proofs with them, senior government officials and other empowered groups are making sure that they also come under the umbrella of this scheme.

A prominent member of the right-to-food campaign and academician, Dipa Sinha has welcomed the government decision but wants this scheme to be valid for six months at least as the distress due to Covid will linger for a long. Last year people without valid proofs were excluded from the scheme so this year universalization is a must.

How will this scheme help fight the pandemic?

Currently, the pandemic is spreading like a fire in the jungle and everyone is doing all they can to break the flow. Daily wage workers and others have been left with no choice but to leave for their hometowns due to lockdowns and curfews in their states and region which will lead to a huge migration and with that increase more Covid cases. To prevent that Government must support them by providing free food at the very least, the very reason for their work.

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