CM Naveen Patnaik asks Modi to extend free ration scheme for 8 more months

BHUBANESWAR: With the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) set to end on November 30, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the free food distribution scheme for at least another eight months.
The Centre had announced PMGKAY last year to ameliorate the distress among the poor during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the scheme, the Centre provides 5 kg free rice/wheat per month along with 1 kg free pulses to around 80 crore people in the country - including 3.25 crore in Odisha - who are beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This is over and above the normal allocation of ration under the food security scheme.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the chief minister said since adequate foodgrains are available at present with the government, it should consider extending the scheme till the pandemic situation improves and complete normalcy is restored in the state.
"The effect of Covid-19 has not waned completely despite a fast-paced vaccination drive undertaken across the state, as cases of new infections continue to surface. Also, other economic activities are yet to reach pre-pandemic level, as a result of which people still struggle to lead a normal life with sustainable means of livelihood," Naveen wrote.
CM letter in wake of plan to end free grain scheme
The chief minister said under the prevailing situation it is highly necessary that the government must provide relief to the vulnerable. "A serious cause of concern in this ongoing pandemic is the challenge of food security to the needy and vulnerable," noted Naveen.
Stating that Odisha has prioritised distribution of seven months' quota of PMGKAY foodgrains to the NFSA beneficiaries and completed it by November 5, the chief minister said the state government has also extended similar facility to the beneficiaries covered under the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).
"Provision of free foodgrains to the people at this crucial juncture ensured that not a single needy and vulnerable person was deprived of foodgrains during the pandemic," Naveen wrote.
The chief minister's letter comes in the wake of recent announcement by Union food secretary Sudhansu Pandey that there is no proposal to extend the free ration scheme beyond November 30.
Though the scheme was initially announced for three months, from April to June, 2020, the Centre has extended it twice till November 2021. Earlier, some opposition parties and activists of right to food campaign had also urged the Centre to extend the PMGKAY scheme for another six months.