Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to be extended

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to be extended

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Welfare Schemes

In news: 

• PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will be extended by five months till the end of November.

• The scheme was announced as part of the first relief package during the COVID-19 pandemic for a three-month period.

Rationale behind the scheme – 

• To ensure that the poorest of the poor were not left hungry.
• Under this scheme, for the next five months, 5 kg of free rice or wheat, and 1 kg of chana will be provided free.
• 80 crore individuals would be covered under this scheme.
• It is a Rs 1.7-lakh crore financial package announced by the government to minimise the impact of Covid-19 lockdown on economy and poor.

Do you know?

• The existing National Food Security Act provides 5kg of foodgrain per person monthly at a subsidised rate of Rs 2-3 per kg to the country’s poor. 
• Under the PMGKY, the ration quota was enhanced by another 5 kg for free for the next three months in March. (and now extended till November)

Important value additions:

National Food Security Act 

• Government of India enacted the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). 
• The Act covers upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population. 
• The targeted population shall receive subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System, thus covering about two-thirds of the population.
• Ministry involved: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.