Modi-led Cabinet approves additional foodgrain under free foodgrain scheme

New Delhi, June 24: With PM Narendra Modi announcing the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana ( PMGKAY ) till November, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the allocation of additional foodgrain for the scheme, which is aimed at providing 5 kg of free foodgrain per month to each beneficiary covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

 

 

 

 

While reviewing the current pandemic, PM Modi, to help the poor and the needy during the crisis on June had announced the extension of the PMGKAY 2021 for a further period of five month still Diwali in November. An additional allocation of 5 kg of foodgrains (Wheat or Rice), free of cost, involving a total quantity of around 204 LMT of foodgrains for a period of further 5 months will be provided to around 80 crore beneficiaries with an estimated financial implication of up to Rs. 67,266 crore.

 

 

 

“Additional allocation will ameliorate the hardships faced by poor due to economic disruption caused by coronavirus. No poor family will suffer on account of non-availability of food-grains due to disruption in the next five months,” it said. The PM-GKAY scheme was launched during the first wave of Covid-19 last year.

 

 

In a separate move on Wednesday, the Cabinet also approved “to merge and transfer all assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of Central Railside Warehouse Company Limited (CRWC), a Mini-Ratna Category-II Central Public Sector Enterprise incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in 2007 with its holding enterprise Central Warehousing Corporation.