New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its ex-post facto approval for allocation of additional free foodgrains to NFSA beneficiaries under the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for May and June.
Last month, on April 23, the Centre had announced that additional free-of-cost foodgrains will be distributed to National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in May and June.
The Government had announced that under this scheme, 5 Kg per person per month foodgrains will be provided to nearly 80 crore beneficiaries free of cost, covered under NFSA over and above NFSA foodgrains for next two months that is May and June.
Under this special scheme (PMGKAY), around 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries covered under both categories of NFSA, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Householders (PHH), will be provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements under NFSA.
The Union Cabinet today (May 5) gave its ex-post facto approval to this decision.
'The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval to the following: Allocation of additional foodgrain under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana Phase III- for another period of 2 months i.e. May to June, 2021 @ 5 kg per person per month free of cost for about 79.88 crore beneficiaries covered under NFSA (AAY & PHH) including those covered under DBT.
'The state/UT-wise allocation in terms of wheat/rice shall be decided by the Department of Food & Public Distribution on the basis of existing allocation ratio under NFSA. Also, the Department of Food and Public Distribution may decide on the extension of the lifting/distribution period under PMGKAY as per operational requirements keeping in view partial and local lockdown situations, and also arising out of adverse weather conditions like monsoon, cyclones, supply chain and Covid-induced constraints etc.
'The total outgo in terms of food-grains may be approximately 80 LMT,' an official statement said here on Wednesday.
The allocation of additional foodgrain free of cost to approximately 79.88 crore individuals under TPDS @ 5 Kg per person per month for two months that is May to June would entail an estimated food subsidy of Rs 25332.92 crore taking the estimated economic cost of Rs 36789.2/MT for rice and Rs 25731.4/ MT for wheat.
Additional allocation will ameliorate the hardships faced by poor due to economic disruption caused by Corona Virus. No poor family will suffer on account of non-availability of food-grains due to disruption in the next two months, the statement said.
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